Work harder, get promoted, make more money. Go up the corporate ladder, sort of speak. Keep climbing and, if you slide down the ladder (or get pushed off or the rung if pulled from under you), start over or go somewhere else. This sounds like the rat race in vertical form. Move up or move out. If you snooze, you lose. Well, welcome to the business world!
What if you realize there is more to life than work? Or that you may not need to be locked up in a office under the watchful eye of the boss to produce the same or higher level of results? Or that there is no such a thing as work/life balance? Or that striving for more flexibility or a different work arrangement may be the answer to your career crisis? Or that you may not always have to move only up, but sideways as well?
In their book, Mass Career Customization, authors Cathy Benko and Anne C. Weisberg, responsible for Deloitte US`s Women Initiative (WIN), argue that, with today`s changing lifestyles, communication technologies and views of men`s and women`s role in business, we should think of our career path as a lattice, not a ladder. The ladder is narrow, straight with nowhere to go, but up. A lattice allows intermittent growth, side moves, peaks and plateaus like a vine going up a wall.
In reality, careers are not perfect A to B to C to D etc. paths. I have been reading dozens of resumes daily for the last 6 years and have rarely seen what we would expect to be a perfect career trajectory. In fact, some of the most interesting professionals I have met, changed jobs or industries or took the less road taken for the sake of learning, personal growth or to add other new skills.
The authors argue that companies should allow employees to customize their careers to improve loyalty, productivity and well being. Read about Mass Career Customization and take the exercise below:
http://www.masscareercustomization.com/about_mcc.html
http://www.masscareercustomization.com/interactive.html
Enjoy!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Bet on Your Strengths
If you had extra money to invest where would you put it? Would you buy stocks in a company or industry that has not performed well or given favorable results? Or would you invest in a thriving industry with innovative promising products? If your answer is that you will bet your money on the successful company or industry, you may heading in the right direction. Common sense, right?
The same thinking applies to our work skills when it comes to strengths and weaknesses. I shamelessly confess my Japanese could be better. It is my 3rd language and I am weak at it. If I really made an effort and studied hard, would I see improvement? I think I definitely would and I have improved, but, to be honest, studying Japanese does not turn me on. Do not hate me for this. I am leading to the following: Should you be focusing on getting better at something you're good at or working in your areas of weakness?
Marcus Buckingham in Go Put Your Strengths to Work, says you will see much higher incremental improvement working on those activities you enjoy and are good at than at trying to work on a skill or activity to do not enjoy. Does this mean you should remain mediocre and weak at a specific work skill? Not at all. There is always room for improvement in any area and despite your level of expertise or interest. Corporations spend billions and billions of dollars on training programs to help employees go from good to better, better to best, best to great and great to Guru. It is part of your job to seek to remedy performance issues by improving your performance.
In a nutshell, yes, do work on areas you may need to work on. That is your professional duty to always seek to improve and evolve; however, by far, you will for sure see better results and get more job satisfaction by focusing on further improving on the tasks that your love: Your strengths.
Have a good Sunday!
The same thinking applies to our work skills when it comes to strengths and weaknesses. I shamelessly confess my Japanese could be better. It is my 3rd language and I am weak at it. If I really made an effort and studied hard, would I see improvement? I think I definitely would and I have improved, but, to be honest, studying Japanese does not turn me on. Do not hate me for this. I am leading to the following: Should you be focusing on getting better at something you're good at or working in your areas of weakness?
Marcus Buckingham in Go Put Your Strengths to Work, says you will see much higher incremental improvement working on those activities you enjoy and are good at than at trying to work on a skill or activity to do not enjoy. Does this mean you should remain mediocre and weak at a specific work skill? Not at all. There is always room for improvement in any area and despite your level of expertise or interest. Corporations spend billions and billions of dollars on training programs to help employees go from good to better, better to best, best to great and great to Guru. It is part of your job to seek to remedy performance issues by improving your performance.
In a nutshell, yes, do work on areas you may need to work on. That is your professional duty to always seek to improve and evolve; however, by far, you will for sure see better results and get more job satisfaction by focusing on further improving on the tasks that your love: Your strengths.
Have a good Sunday!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
And What Turns you Off?
Let's be honest: There are work activities you do not enjoy, you despise...that you totally hate...that make you want to stay in bed or call in sick. The prevalence of these activities at work make your life miserable and will quickly lead to burnout or a career crisis, the theme of this blog.
In my previous post, I suggested that you identify those activities that turn you on, that when you do them you are "in the flow" and time flies without you noticing. Do the opposite now. Give examples of specific activities (long meetings, expense reporting, responding to complaints, report writing...whatever) that turn you off. These tasks leave you tired, angry, dissatisfied, unfulfilled, just drained.
By the way, be realistic and accept that even what you may consider to be dream job may have its downsides. There is no such a thing as a perfectly happy job or work environment. There are way too many external factors that positively or negatively affect your work. Even highly paid top fashion models complain of the endless travel and grueling work schedules. The grass will always be green on the other side of the fence.
Your own weaknesses and interests may cause these feelings. Should you just stop doing those activities altogether and risk penalties? Most definitely not. Task swapping with a colleague, re-assignment, changing the timing of the activity, team members or location, intensity, process, training or re-training, changing positions or working on your own attitude toward these tasks (I highly recommend Don't Sweat The Small Stuff at Work by Richard Carlson, PH.D.on this last point)are possible solutions. The list is endless and depends on the nature of the issue.
What should you be doing then? See my next installment.
Enjoy your Sunday.
In my previous post, I suggested that you identify those activities that turn you on, that when you do them you are "in the flow" and time flies without you noticing. Do the opposite now. Give examples of specific activities (long meetings, expense reporting, responding to complaints, report writing...whatever) that turn you off. These tasks leave you tired, angry, dissatisfied, unfulfilled, just drained.
By the way, be realistic and accept that even what you may consider to be dream job may have its downsides. There is no such a thing as a perfectly happy job or work environment. There are way too many external factors that positively or negatively affect your work. Even highly paid top fashion models complain of the endless travel and grueling work schedules. The grass will always be green on the other side of the fence.
Your own weaknesses and interests may cause these feelings. Should you just stop doing those activities altogether and risk penalties? Most definitely not. Task swapping with a colleague, re-assignment, changing the timing of the activity, team members or location, intensity, process, training or re-training, changing positions or working on your own attitude toward these tasks (I highly recommend Don't Sweat The Small Stuff at Work by Richard Carlson, PH.D.on this last point)are possible solutions. The list is endless and depends on the nature of the issue.
What should you be doing then? See my next installment.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
What turns you on? Back to the basics.
I am a fan of good marketing. I am involved in marketing indirectly, working with some of the top marketers in the land. It is such a great pleasure to come across great products or services that are presented in a creative, clever, unique manner, especially if the product is something simple, something everyday.
Walking in Shibuya yesterday afternoon,I came across RazzleBerry (http://razzleberry.jp/), frozen yogurt shop with an attitude, a simple product with an awesome concept. They totally blew me away.
What am I getting at? Exactly, that. That something that blows you away,excites you, moves you can give you a boost of energy to help you deal with the career crisis blues. A word of warning: There is a clear, and very thick line between work and play, work VS hobbies. I must say I am truly lucky to work with great companies and the people who make their products and services greater by promoting them in remarkable ways.
In his book, Go Put Your Strengths To Work, Marcus Buckingham, states that the best way to succeed at work is to identify and focus on those work activities that turn you on, that you enjoy and bring the best in you.
Homework: Ask yourself these questions:
What brought you to this job in the 1st place?
When do you feel most excited at work? Name the activity:
What activity makes you forget time, time flies without noticing when you do it?
What activities do the opposite?
Enjoy your Sunday.
Walking in Shibuya yesterday afternoon,I came across RazzleBerry (http://razzleberry.jp/), frozen yogurt shop with an attitude, a simple product with an awesome concept. They totally blew me away.
What am I getting at? Exactly, that. That something that blows you away,excites you, moves you can give you a boost of energy to help you deal with the career crisis blues. A word of warning: There is a clear, and very thick line between work and play, work VS hobbies. I must say I am truly lucky to work with great companies and the people who make their products and services greater by promoting them in remarkable ways.
In his book, Go Put Your Strengths To Work, Marcus Buckingham, states that the best way to succeed at work is to identify and focus on those work activities that turn you on, that you enjoy and bring the best in you.
Homework: Ask yourself these questions:
What brought you to this job in the 1st place?
When do you feel most excited at work? Name the activity:
What activity makes you forget time, time flies without noticing when you do it?
What activities do the opposite?
Enjoy your Sunday.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Johnny Can`t Work.
Johnny Bunko is trapped in a cubicle counting beans when his heart is in another line of work. Sounds familiar? Well, Johnny CAN work, but he hopes to work in a fulfilling, challenging type of job that brings the best in him.
In The Adventures of Johnny Bunko. The Last Career Guide You`ll Ever Need, Daniel Pink gives the following 6 pieces of advice:
1. Career plan? Strictly following a career plan may lead to getting stuck once you follow out of pure obligation. Choose a job out of the fun and fulfillment it`ll provide wherever it may lead.
2. Think strengths. A 5% improvement in something you're good at will give more results and satisfaction than 10% in something you may suck at and dislike doing anyway.
3. Forget the Me, Me, Me attitude: It`s not just about YOU. Helping your clients, peers and superiors achieve success will automatically result in you achieving yours.
4. Persist. Keep trying out of enjoyment and love for what you do, not just for selfish reasons or external rewards.
5. Screw-up intelligently. Make mistakes with the best intentions. Learn from the experience and give it another (better) shot.
6. Your legacy: Leave a good imprint, something to be remembered by.
I don't get any money from pushing this book, but do buy read it if you have a chance.
Next installment: The Life Work Balance Myth
In The Adventures of Johnny Bunko. The Last Career Guide You`ll Ever Need, Daniel Pink gives the following 6 pieces of advice:
1. Career plan? Strictly following a career plan may lead to getting stuck once you follow out of pure obligation. Choose a job out of the fun and fulfillment it`ll provide wherever it may lead.
2. Think strengths. A 5% improvement in something you're good at will give more results and satisfaction than 10% in something you may suck at and dislike doing anyway.
3. Forget the Me, Me, Me attitude: It`s not just about YOU. Helping your clients, peers and superiors achieve success will automatically result in you achieving yours.
4. Persist. Keep trying out of enjoyment and love for what you do, not just for selfish reasons or external rewards.
5. Screw-up intelligently. Make mistakes with the best intentions. Learn from the experience and give it another (better) shot.
6. Your legacy: Leave a good imprint, something to be remembered by.
I don't get any money from pushing this book, but do buy read it if you have a chance.
Next installment: The Life Work Balance Myth
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Meet Johnny Bunko
One of the simplest, yet, most convincing career books I have read recently (actually read it in 1 train ride from Shibuya to Yokohama). Written in manga style, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko by Daniel Pink examines 6 pieces of advice no parent, teacher, counselor, HR expert or boy scout leader has taught you.
Daniel Pink attended Northwestern University and Yale law school, but he has never practiced law. When failing his bar exams, he discovered that working as a free agent was best for him,writing books, lecturing on topics like career development and motivation. He did work for the US government, even writing speeches for Al Gore, for a few years.
Check out the trailer.
Daniel Pink attended Northwestern University and Yale law school, but he has never practiced law. When failing his bar exams, he discovered that working as a free agent was best for him,writing books, lecturing on topics like career development and motivation. He did work for the US government, even writing speeches for Al Gore, for a few years.
Check out the trailer.
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