Top Exec Blog (Web Log)

Someone I know recently shared with me the story of her short-lived employment at a company that seemed, in the beginning, like an ideal setting with all the right factors for success, given her skills and experience. When the opportunity presented itself, she pursued it aggressively and landed it after a short few weeks of intense interviews, etc. Upon reflection, following her exit, she shared her thoughts with me. I blended her ideas with some of the experience I've garnered over the years. Perhaps others might reflect on these ideas and use them to advantage. Enjoy!

WHAT DID I LEARN?

I must have my “emotional intelligence” antennae up at all times (note: see Working with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, published by Bantam Dell, © 1998).

I must read people better – their words, deeds and intentions.

I must educate others, use my knowledge and experience more persuasively where there is ignorance or doubt about the way I’m doing things.

I must be more assertive and sure of myself – I do know what I’m doing, and I do have significant experience, especially in the context of (fill in the blank).

If a job or culture is not right for me, even though I really need a job, salary, benefits and security, I must not hang on to it beyond the time it takes me to find its replacement.

When I choose to work for a company, I must assess the culture, the people, the boss and the boss’ boss --- it’s an entire package, and you cannot and must not try to isolate yourself from this reality.

Working harder and longer hours is not a smart strategy to preserve a job that cannot be made successful with the (limited) resources you are given.

Ignoring RED FLAGS and other warnings is dangerous to your career health.

STOP and ANALYZE what’s going on. Look at the situation from all sides, and ask the HARD QUESTIONS – is this the place for me? Am I going to be successful given these circumstances? What else can I do (or not) to make this work? Do I hold a winning hand? If not, what am I going to do about it? How can I change it, or how can I change ME, to make this a success? Are the goals aligned between the boss and his boss and me? Am I clear about what’s needed to make the boss and the company “happy” with my performance? Am I getting the input and resources that I need (or propose as needed) to make it happen? If not, is this something I can work through successfully, or is it a recipe for disaster?

LISTEN to the people you work with, including resellers and alliance partners. Are they sending out warning signals? Are they responding to your calls on a timely basis? Are they engaging with you actively or “sort of”? What can you learn from them about yourself, your company, and your activities? Are they happy or not with the way you, your boss and others in the organization are servicing their needs, responding to their input?

DECIDE quickly and as efficiently as possible how you are going to resolve festering issues and problems.

Make sure that your input is being taken into consideration, and be confident about your own experience and capabilities – you were hired to add value and expertise, so use them!

Maximize your own skill set and experience by leveraging the input and approaches to work issues by your boss (and his/her boss).

Know when to walk away from a losing situation; ideally you do this when you have opened up alternate employment or relevant new opportunities that mesh better with your skill set, personality, work ethic, etc., and not after you've been "separated" from service or RIF'd or some other euphemism from an H.R. person.

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While these thoughts come from someone who has recently reflected long and hard about the "ideal job", the truth is there is no ideal job, no perfect boss and no imaginary world of work where everything is "just right". We each have to toil at it, refine our abilities, make changes and modifications to our own capabilities and skills and learn to win in spite of or because of the way we interact with all the other players on the team we work with. The boss (and his/her boss) have a lot to do with our success, but at the end of the day, it's up to each of us to manage our opportunities in a way that keeps us on the team, allows us to contribute amply and brings home the bacon for both the company and the family. 'Nuff said?

Thanks for reading, and I hope that your trip on the Career Path Expressway™ continues to be smooth riding, even if you take a detour or two along the way.

© Daniel A. Cabrera, TopExec.org, All Rights Reserved, 2008.