Ask the Expert Randy Prange is a business advisor and CEO of Insights, Inc., a nationally recognized strategic planning and business development firm. Should I take the Promotion? Q: I've worked for a major corporation for over 15 years and worked my way up the management ladder. We recently had a turnover in Senior management including our President and cutbacks are beginning to happen all over the company. I've been asked to move to a different division becoming the highest ranking executive in that area. I'm apprehensive to accept the promotion because I'm afraid, the new senior management is putting me there so that I may execute the layoffs which are coming down the pipes. I don't want to set myself up to be the Fall Guy but the promotion is a very good opportunity to take my career to another level. Any advice? Taylor A: Dear Taylor You will be the best judge of the value of the promotion offered. If you have been with this company for 15 years, you know the "lay of the land" and whether or not this is a good career move. On the face of it, I would say it is probably a good move. If there is a restructuring in the making and you are asked to take a larger role in the plan, that sounds like a career opportunity to me. The senior management team obviously values your ability or they would not assign you such a difficult task. The dismissal of long-term employees is rarely undertaken with a cavalier attitude by savvy management. They usually understand the need to handle layoffs with skill and sensitivity. I would not imagine they would simply put a "Fall Guy" in the position that was not capable of handling the direction of the division, along with potential layoffs, professionally. If it turns out that you are being promoted largely to affect the layoffs, then you have still attained a better career position than you currently hold. That experience, although not what we normally desire in our careers, may well turn out to be a valuable one for you. Also, you can use your sensitivity to make the transition out of the company as painless as possible for those affected. This is something another person may not feel as strongly about or be able to do as well as you. Recently Asked Questions My new boss is ten years younger than I am, not married and practically lives at work. I feel like he expects me to do the same. What should I do? Randy's advice While in the process of interviewing for a new job, I found out I was pregnant. At what point should I tell them the good news? Randy's Answer Submit your questions Disclaimer: The information in this column is intended to provide the reader with general ideas or concepts to be used as part of a broader base of knowledge they collect to determine their own best course of action and solutions most suitable for solving their workplace challenges. The information in this column is not guaranteed to be the appropriate solution for each individual. The information provided is based on personal observations and experiences of the writer that have been garnered over years as a business manager, owner and executive business coach and counselor.