Hi Joe,
I’m not sure what to do.
As a MOPs professional, I do so much for the company and am always juggling a ton of things on any given day.
“My boss thinks I only work in Marketo, but I actually take care of so much more!”
My boss thinks I only work in Marketo, but I actually take care of so much more!
What can I do to show them my contributions and how I’m actually spending my time?
Thank you,
Undervalued Uriel
Hi, Uriel,
I wish this weren’t a common problem, but it is.
So often, MOPs “teams” are made up of a small group of people that sit under Marketing or Sales, reporting into leaders that don’t fully understand what MOPs is and how much effort it takes to get it right.
It’s a challenge, particularly for small teams that are left to manage multiple tasks and projects without much investment or support.
There’s hope on the horizon, though.
The talent pool of MOPs professionals and leaders is growing every day, and that means that companies are far more likely to hire managers and directors who understand how many plates you have to spin in a role like yours.
In the meantime, here are some of the things you can do to improve your current situation.
Have a transparent conversation
Your manager doesn’t know what they don’t know.
And while it’s not your job to educate them, you can have a frank conversation about the different things you’re doing and how you can’t do them all.
Going into this conversation, take the time to:
➡️ List out tasks you do
➡️ How much time you spend on them, and
➡️ Prioritize them based on how much value you feel they add to the marketing team.
If you feel that you need another person on the team, share your advice around how you would divide the tasks to make the most impact. At the end of the day, you’ll be the MOPs expert in that conversation, so make sure you show that expertise.
Take a forward-looking approach
Another important conversation to have with your manager is about the direction you want your career to take.
As you know, there are so many paths and specializations to follow in MOPs.
Choosing a path and communicating that to your manager will help them understand that you can’t be the “catch-all” for MOPs, and it will give them the opportunity to support you with the training and mentorship you need.
Pair this with strategic thinking around where your organization can take MOPs moving forward, and a good manager will be even more inclined to craft a role that is right for you.
Don’t be afraid to make a change
If none of that works, then it might be time to look elsewhere.
You deserve to work for a team that understands how important your role is — so start looking for one.
Companies that have built a strong marketing ops culture will have various people in MOPs roles, including a director or VP who has years of experience in the space.
The job descriptions will also be telling.
If the hiring manager has written down a laundry list of tasks they want a specific MOPs role to fill, you can bet they don’t fully grasp what MOPs is all about.
“Your future is in your hands — and it’s bright.”
Your future is in your hands — and it’s bright.
As MOPs continues to grow as a space, there are going to be so many more solid opportunities for you to build your career with. Just wait and see.
Read our recent column I’m All Alone in Marketing Ops, How Do I Get Help? for more advice.
You’ve got this,
Joe Pulse
