CAREER MANAGEMENT, IS IT SCIENCE OR ART?

Commencing your journey in a world where there are a multitude of careers that can be pursued, a variety of people that you will meet, and numerous roles that you will be willing to take up, how do you focus on creating a successful career?????

Careers are not complicated; You find something that makes you feel motivated and energized, and you stick to it through the tough and easy days.????

In case you fail to find something, you keep on exploring.??

But how do you optimize this entire process????

Obviously, we cannot go on exploring forever, right???

The answer lies in understanding that careers are science.??

Not rocket science, but science.?????

Science of Career Management?

Going back to the basics, what is science????

Science is a method of acquiring knowledge of the world we live in and what surrounds us.???

Science is full of experimentation and observation. It is run by defined rules, laws, and formulas and has specified algorithms with which it works.??

A+B will always be equal to C,??

Acid and base will give salt and water.??

What is science when it comes to careers???

Performance.???

Performance is a science because it calls for capability, dedication, sense of purpose and is focused on efficient execution.??

Performing based on the goals set and catering to the organization's expectations is the science of a career.?

Let us take an example of performance and the science behind it. Vineet was a data analyst in a company. He had to perform analytics on the employee data and draw insights into possible reasons for attrition and low productivity. ??

He liked his job. Vineet’s?purpose was to become a data scientist. Therefore, he was motivated. In terms of skills, he learned logistics regression, P-value, and a few other statistical techniques. Vineet?had the skills. He was motivated to work. He was clear about his goals. He was hard-working. Hence, Vineet?could perform. ??

Vineet created wonderful algorithms to predict attrition and performance. That was the science of performance for him. ?

However, The HR team and business managers did not use the algorithms. His work was not noticed, and the manager gave him a poor rating. This resulted in a lower increment and the promotion did not come through, while some peers with lower performance received higher increments. Some of them were promoted as well.?

Here is the catch, careers are not just science. They are also art.???

Art of Career Management?

Art is multifaceted. It has a flow of its own.??

Not defined by any formula, it enjoys autonomy and is expressed through any medium.???

The confluence of the two results in a successful career.????

Then what is the art of career???

The art lies in managing relationships with managers and peers and engaging them. The organization and the manager must engage you. However, you must also engage your managers, peers, and internal or external customers. They will help you succeed. Art lies in understanding that all individuals have their own objectives of joining an organization. ??

Let us go back to the example of our data analyst, Vineet.? He was frustrated. He consulted a coach and realized that he did not manage his manager and his internal customers well. Talking to the coach he found his answers. He realized IQ was not enough. Vineet had to develop and deploy EQ.??

Vineet went back, spoke to his manager, and understood his?motivations. The manager wanted to be seen by the leaders as a great data scientist.?

Vineet also spoke to some business managers and their human resource business partners (HRBP). He found two business managers struggling with low productivity and high attrition. Vineet presented his model to them, and they were quite impressed and were willing to use it. Their HRBPs were also technology savvy and wanted to be seen ahead of the curve in absorbing technology. ?

Vineet requested his manager to present to the leader of the vertical to which the two business managers belonged. The manager was excited to position himself as a data scientist and owner of?the algorithms in front of the vertical leader. When the manager presented to the leader, the leader and the two business managers lapped up the models.?

The models succeeded in managing attrition and productivity in the two business units. Gradually all the other business units in the vertical starting using the models. The rest of the organization followed.?

Vineet’s manager was seen as a hero and was promoted. The manager was very happy with Vineet. Vineet got a hefty increment and a promotion too. Managers are usually more powerful than you. The organization supports the managers, most of the time, as they must deliver and ensure delivery from their teams.?

This was the art of performance.?

The art is understanding the flow and rhythm of your team - the peers, managers, and skip managers. ??

The rhythm of your customers – internal and external – is also equally important. ?

So, to be successful, align yourself and your work to the goals of your managers, peers, and the organization.???

Marrying science with art?to create scientific art?would go a long way to improve your career prospects.???

So, find the intersection of algorithm and rhythm, for a harmonious career.??

So, the essentials of building a career are:?

• Science?

• Align your goals with the overall organizational goals?
• Hone your skills to deliver on your goals?
• If possible, align your purpose in life with your performance goals?
• Work hard?
• Stay engaged and motivated in your own interest even if your manager and leader are not engaging you.?

You will be able to perform??

• Art of performance?

• Understand what your manager wants?
• Align your goals with his personal aspirations?
• Help your manager look good in front of his manager and leaders?
• Let him take the credit if he wants to?
• Understand the motivations of your clients?
• If you can find some clients for whatever you are doing even before you start your work that will be helpful?
• Align your work with the needs of your clients?
• Take your peers along. Socialize your work with your peers. Involve them if possible. ?

Engaging your managers, clients, and peers, understanding their motivations, catering to them, and aligning with them is the art.?

You will build a successful career.

Should you always let the manager and the team take the credit and remain in the background? ?

NO. ?

Wait for your turn and then grab the opportunity. ?

How? ?

We will talk about it in one of our?articles that will follow.?

What are you good?at - managing the art or the science of a career, or both? ?

Please let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.?

We will connect again next week. Ciao!?