Career Stories - The Dangers of Stagnation in the Workplace

The Dangers of Stagnation in the Workplace

?"Stagnation is the enemy of progress. Embrace change, continuously improve, and stay relevant in your field."

Fresh out of college, Ram joined the company and was able to support his family with a sufficient salary. Despite taking out loans for a house and a car, he was able to make both ends meet by effectively managing his finances. Over time, he gained experience and knowledge about the products and processes of the company and was promoted to a managerial position.

Unfortunately, his manager never pushed him to learn new skills or upskill himself. He was content with giving Ram safe-zone review ratings without providing any constructive feedback or setting challenging targets. Despite the changing industry landscape, Ram persisted in his old ways and failed to adapt to new technologies, set ambitious goals, take calculated risks, enhance his soft skills, or expand his professional network.

Over time, the company implemented new technologies, and Ram was tasked with working with them. He struggled to understand and work with the new technology. As the pressure of the new technology increased, Ram's lack of adaptation and slow progress in learning new skills started to have a negative impact on the performance of the projects he was assigned to. This situation began to affect the morale of the younger, more skilled, and efficient employees who were adept with the new technology. Consequently, many of the young employees started to feel frustrated and decided to leave the company, which caught the attention of the management. After conducting a thorough analysis, it became clear that Ram's lack of willingness to learn and adapt to the new technology was a major factor in the exodus of younger talent from the company.

The management realized the seriousness of the matter and offered Ram a six-month period to learn and align with the new technology requirements of the company. However, Ram was not able to improve his performance within the given timeframe, which resulted in the management relieving him of his duties. After serving the company for nearly two decades, Ram lost his job at the age of 45. Unfortunately, he had no savings, and his financial commitments were high.

Ram's financial situation had become dire, and his children's future was at risk due to his mounting debt. His wife had sold her jewelry to alleviate some of the burdens. Ram felt hopeless and depressed as he went from one company to another in search of a job, but his lack of modern skills and average competency level made it difficult to secure employment.

Here are the takeaways from the story:

• Importance of Continuous Learning:?To stay relevant in the job market, keeping oneself updated with the latest technologies and skills is essential. Failing to learn new technologies and upskill can lead to poor job performance and, eventually, unemployment.
• Experience is not Enough:?In today's world, experience alone is not enough to succeed in one's career. One must continuously upskill and learn new technologies to stay relevant and succeed in their profession.
• The Danger of Staying in Comfort Zone:?Staying in one's comfort zone and not taking up new challenges can lead to a lack of growth and skill development. It can also lead to poor job performance and, eventually, unemployment.
• The Importance of Constructive Feedback:?Managers should provide constructive feedback to their employees to help them improve their skills and performance. A lack of feedback can lead to stagnation in skill development and poor job performance.
• Financial Planning and Saving:?It is essential to have a financial plan and save for emergencies and future needs. Relying solely on loans and managing finances only for monthly commitments can lead to financial trouble in case of job loss or other unexpected situations.

Disclaimer:?

This story is written by Shekhar Ganagaluru (HR & IR Professional | Author | Motivational Speaker | Storyteller | Mentor | Trainer | Social Worker | Me - Safety - Family Ambassador), and the author reserves all rights. Any reproduction or distribution of this story without the author's express permission is strictly prohibited. Thank you for respecting the intellectual property of the author.