I often ask myself the question “How did I get here?� Looking back on the choices I’ve made in my life so far, this question cannot always be answered. Try it – look back on the last 5 years and see if every decision you have made makes sense in getting you to where you are today. The answer will probably be no.
A depressing question this may be and the reason I ask this is because I’m currently evaluating the position that I am in professionally. TomorrowToday has made me think. Think about what I actually want out of my professional life and more importantly what I don’t want. I look at the issues raised by TomorrowToday about Talent Management – how should companies be treating people in order to recruit and retain them? Where are companies going wrong and what are they doing to successfully retain good people?
My current situation is a prime example of what not to do. Specifically, do not create an environment of fear. Do not create an environment where people are scared to make their own decisions and act on their initiative for fear of having what we call ‘the dictatorship’ coming down on them. In short, people should never be scared to be themselves.
Old fashioned you may say but it happens. There are still environments out there where people fear their jobs may be lost if they put a foot out of line. If they do not follow orders and company policies to the tee even in situations where they may be right.
The other day a good friend of mine phoned me during my lunch and casually mentioned during our conversation that she was on her way to the hairdresser. “What?� I said, “It’s the middle of the day�. “So what?� was her reply. She was right, so what? It is her lunch break and she is entitled to do anything she likes during that hour. Well, not anything but you get the picture. We don’t work like that. Lunch is half an hour and you are told when you can take that half hour.
The sad thing is this particular company could be great. All the right ingredients are there. The people are young, vibrant and full of creative potential. Unfortunately, this creativity is constantly put down. Yes, you are given the opportunity to express yourself and come up with new ideas about the ways certain tasks should be handled but you always end up doing what you are told to do. Recently I was asked to re visit a certain process and look at ways that this could be improved. I spent a full week drafting new documentation, internal and external processes and finally got the opportunity to present this to the higher powers. I thought that I had done a pretty good job and was feeling confident. However, 90% of what I had done was questioned. Ways that my documentation and processes could be improved (or rather completely changed) were discussed and decided upon in front of me. Not once was I asked for my opinion and no comments, good or bad, were passed about my efforts.
If I’ve shocked you I’m not surprised. I am shocked almost every day. We are all adults and in my opinion being an adult means that you can make your own decisions and in particular your employers should trust that you are capable of making these decisions. Being an adult means that your opinions should be listened to and that you and your individuality should at all times be treated with respect.
What not to do – Part 1
There are so many articles and books out there talking about the new economy, talent, new ways of doing business etc. A deluge in fact. How to get hired, how to keep talent, how to re-structure your business to stay ahead.
And yet the same refrain keeps coming:
– from companies: the problems of different generations working together; the challenge of spotting, hiring, and keeping talent; how to stay ahead of the curve and still keep the bucks coming in; the flattening of the world and competition heating up and coming from unexpected places.
– from employees/talent: my company doesn’t understand or trust me; they’re clockwatchers; I’m bored but it’s not that easy finding another job; they treat me like a child; there’s so much red tape and bureaucracy; they don’t respect the value I could add; they pigeonhole me.
The challenges from both sides are continuing and building momentum. And everyone seems to have solutions to ‘fixing’ these problems.
My question to this is: What if these ‘problems’ are actually signs?
Could all of these not be the beginning of the end of the corporation as we know it? Let’s face it – most of the corporations out there are modelled on the rise of business when things moved from the mom and pop corner store or trading took place between individuals and things became more formalised. Businesses moved from mom and pop to a dozen, then a few hundred, then a few thousand.
And of course, procedures and policies had to be implemented to ‘manage’ all these people. There were rules and regulations, guidelines, hierarchies etc. And they worked really well. Just look at the massive conglomerates which have covered the face of the earth. At how they were able to not just infiltrate their markets, but other countries as well. Gave new meaning to global domination.
But people have changed. Kids are being born today who are different to those born in the previous generation. And that’s always been the trend. So if people are ‘evolving’ then why doesn’t everything else? Like the corporations and education?
It’s because the birth of a new generation of people is organic, it’s based on the environment these kids find themselves in, the input their parents and their peers have on them, on so many ‘intangible’ things.
And yet corporations keep playing by the old rules. The only difference is that they are trying to dress these old rules up with new wallpaper and company slogans. But at its root, it’s still old-school. It’s like the pimply nerd whose desperate to be cool and get the chicks. So he researches the cool guys, what clothes they wear, the clubs they hang out at etc. And he hits the mall, kits himself out, sorts out the acne, hits the gym and starts hanging out at the right places. On the outside he is the epitome of cool, cos he’s done his homework. But the true test is when a hot chick chats him up. And he’s still the nerd under all of the wallpaper. He looks cool, but he isn’t cool.
And with the rapid changes in technology and the power it places in the hand of the individual, the environment is ripe for a new kind of business.
So if that’s the case, then why do BYT’s still work for corporates? That’s cos our education system (which is as old school as the corporate), has instilled in young minds that the done thing is to get a good education at school, then get further education at varsity (those shiny degrees are the things to aspire to), then find yourself a good, safe job at a really impressive company. At a few impressive companies and build an impressive resume. And then you’re set for life.
Only reality is not like that. So BYT’s find themselves running on someone else’s treadmill and wondering why they’re frustrated and unfulfilled.
These could be the birthpains of a new kind of corporate. A new kind of business entity. There are a few who ‘get’ it. But so many more who don’t. It’s going to be fun to see which ones sink. And which ones swim.
There are so many articles and books out there talking about the new economy, talent, new ways of doing business etc. A deluge in fact. How to get hired, how to keep talent, how to re-structure your business to stay ahead.
And yet the same refrain keeps coming:
– from companies: the problems of different generations working together; the challenge of spotting, hiring, and keeping talent; how to stay ahead of the curve and still keep the bucks coming in; the flattening of the world and competition heating up and coming from unexpected places.
– from employees/talent: my company doesn’t understand or trust me; they’re clockwatchers; I’m bored but it’s not that easy finding another job; they treat me like a child; there’s so much red tape and bureaucracy; they don’t respect the value I could add; they pigeonhole me.
The challenges from both sides are continuing and building momentum. And everyone seems to have solutions to ‘fixing’ these problems.
My question to this is: What if these ‘problems’ are actually signs?
Could all of these not be the beginning of the end of the corporation as we know it? Let’s face it – most of the corporations out there are modelled on the rise of business when things moved from the mom and pop corner store or trading took place between individuals and things became more formalised. Businesses moved from mom and pop to a dozen, then a few hundred, then a few thousand.
And of course, procedures and policies had to be implemented to ‘manage’ all these people. There were rules and regulations, guidelines, hierarchies etc. And they worked really well. Just look at the massive conglomerates which have covered the face of the earth. At how they were able to not just infiltrate their markets, but other countries as well. Gave new meaning to global domination.
But people have changed. Kids are being born today who are different to those born in the previous generation. And that’s always been the trend. So if people are ‘evolving’ then why doesn’t everything else? Like the corporations and education?
It’s because the birth of a new generation of people is organic, it’s based on the environment these kids find themselves in, the input their parents and their peers have on them, on so many ‘intangible’ things.
And yet corporations keep playing by the old rules. The only difference is that they are trying to dress these old rules up with new wallpaper and company slogans. But at its root, it’s still old-school. It’s like the pimply nerd whose desperate to be cool and get the chicks. So he researches the cool guys, what clothes they wear, the clubs they hang out at etc. And he hits the mall, kits himself out, sorts out the acne, hits the gym and starts hanging out at the right places. On the outside he is the epitome of cool, cos he’s done his homework. But the true test is when a hot chick chats him up. And he’s still the nerd under all of the wallpaper. He looks cool, but he isn’t cool.
And with the rapid changes in technology and the power it places in the hand of the individual, the environment is ripe for a new kind of business.
So if that’s the case, then why do BYT’s still work for corporates? That’s cos our education system (which is as old school as the corporate), has instilled in young minds that the done thing is to get a good education at school, then get further education at varsity (those shiny degrees are the things to aspire to), then find yourself a good, safe job at a really impressive company. At a few impressive companies and build an impressive resume. And then you’re set for life.
Only reality is not like that. So BYT’s find themselves running on someone else’s treadmill and wondering why they’re frustrated and unfulfilled.
These could be the birthpains of a new kind of corporate. A new kind of business entity. There are a few who ‘get’ it. But so many more who don’t. It’s going to be fun to see which ones sink. And which ones swim.
Anj I could not agree with you more. One of the things that a lot of companies have to start realising, is that as BYTS grow up, they start to realise what their value is. And with this realisation comes the knowledge that they dont have to put with bullsh*t that companies expect, and so they walk away, because at the end of the day, companies want the good people, they want the BYTs and they are trying to attract them, so they will get them as they leave behind the last company that did not “get them”, their challenge is to keep them.
Anj I could not agree with you more. One of the things that a lot of companies have to start realising, is that as BYTS grow up, they start to realise what their value is. And with this realisation comes the knowledge that they dont have to put with bullsh*t that companies expect, and so they walk away, because at the end of the day, companies want the good people, they want the BYTs and they are trying to attract them, so they will get them as they leave behind the last company that did not “get them”, their challenge is to keep them.
When I read this article, I was surprised to learn that all of the people involved, no longer worked for a Fortune 500 company. Mybe I should not have been surprised…
When I read this article, I was surprised to learn that all of the people involved, no longer worked for a Fortune 500 company. Mybe I should not have been surprised…
Hi Vicky …
I can really sympathise. There is nothing worse than feeling like you’re stuck in a job where no one appreciates you or where your talent and creativity are stiffled or discouraged.
If I was in your shoes … I would update my CV and then (and this is the most important bit) I would make a list of what I’M looking for in a company and in a job.
I think you have to take your future and your hapiness into your own hands.
Gone are the days of you waiting for the right job to find you … it’s up to you to interview companies to find out if they are the right people for YOU!
Sometimes you’re going to get it wrong – but you need to learn to trust yourself and be really clear about what you want and need in a career and work environment.
The chances are you’re not going to be able to change the company that you work for at the moment – and it’s sad for them that they’ll end up loosing a BYT.
But there are plenty of great companies out there that will be waiting to welcome you with open arms! Good luck!
Hi Vicky …
I can really sympathise. There is nothing worse than feeling like you’re stuck in a job where no one appreciates you or where your talent and creativity are stiffled or discouraged.
If I was in your shoes … I would update my CV and then (and this is the most important bit) I would make a list of what I’M looking for in a company and in a job.
I think you have to take your future and your hapiness into your own hands.
Gone are the days of you waiting for the right job to find you … it’s up to you to interview companies to find out if they are the right people for YOU!
Sometimes you’re going to get it wrong – but you need to learn to trust yourself and be really clear about what you want and need in a career and work environment.
The chances are you’re not going to be able to change the company that you work for at the moment – and it’s sad for them that they’ll end up loosing a BYT.
But there are plenty of great companies out there that will be waiting to welcome you with open arms! Good luck!