What will you do if you can't grown any more ?

While i am fully aware the world loves anything written on "Dream big" " Reach for the Moon " " Think outside the galaxy" and whatever that propels imagination, mood and positivism, today i chose to write about an inspiring someone who confirmed by belief in Not all have to run that fast or want big things, to be successful.

As a practicing coach i have come across the whole range of issues surrounding Ambition and the Career pace, mismatch. Met so many Knowledge experts, Tech whizkids and SME's, who wish they could be Industry leads and earn prestigious Fellowships, however slow moving careers get under their skin. The number of People leaders who manage operations, functions and business are not far behind in their need to move up a notch, at time many and sometimes they are hardwired to get right at the top and FAST. Of course, like any responsible coach i have taken them through the process of introspection, reflection, establishment of practical goals, admissions and movement. In this journey i  found a few interesting things that needed to be shared with the world of working people.

As much as it is my job, to help people reach their potential and be their best, i have to admit many times i have met people who are already there. They are at their best and only reinvent the wheel to believe they are up to something novel. But it's been done before, thought before, paved before and pretty much  85% of their day at work is like all other days of the year. Managing job demands, change, or delivering goals by itself does not make anyone note worthy. That IS the job and you are decent at doing it which is why you are there. But should you grow depends on several other factors including exceptional Leadership potential. What you are now may not be good enough to move upward although at year end you are walking away with super performance ratings .A marginal process improvement or a lecture given here or there also does not build your "Matter". Without unique thinking , outstanding leading abilities and creative change how can anyone stand out on a busy street ? And yet they want to.

Why is it hard for some people to be reasonable with themselves has baffled me. Being reasonable is not being complacent. All will NOT be CEO's or MD's, not even VP's. This article is most fitting for Gen X who are 1960 - 1980 born who have been in careers for 15 -25 years. There is a good chance you are already where your desired state would have been. Maybe a decade ago, this place you are in, would have been a dream. When dreams come true they cant suddenly loose luster. I met one happy coachee who came like a fresh breath of air in a very claustrophobic India, where everyone wants to be on the cover of Business times !

He was thrilled at who he became, what he learnt, where he is and was not pushing himself hard. He worked outstandingly well but not with his eyes on a particular chair. When i probed what makes him keep his feet on him, he said " Seema, i do not think i am CEO material." I pushed him further, asking if that was self deprecating even marginally. He confidently said "It would have been if i was feeling sorry about it. But i really dont want to be a CEO ever. I think as XYZ with my intelligence, capability and skills i am already doing the best job there is". I smiled all the way back home that day. For the first time i was not trying to get a coachee to get reasonable. Most push themselves out of the window and the also the door, with their career aggression. 

The next schedule, i was the one excited to be in the meeting. This time he asked me why do i think he is engaged, passionate, dedicated, a great performer yet not chasing a large chair. I was not expecting a hot seat for myself. But an old story my dad shared with me came back. It was about a boy and what his grandfather once told him " You can aim to be 6 feet 5 inches, to play the best basketball, but if your genes are designed to pull you to 5 feet 9, that is as tall as you will be. With killing effort and wild focus you may grow another inch and be a 5 feet 10 inch tall man all your life. But guess what ? All your life, in your head, you will be 7 inches short. So who would you rather be ? Happy with your genes - work real hard.? Get to be an inch taller and be that guy who is an inch more than he aimed to be or 7 long inches of a miss ? "

The beautiful silence in the room was because we both knew that meant something. Then he told me ,i have been unclear - there are someday's when i wondered if i was being laid back or just grateful and content. I would see all the chaos my peers bring into their life getting furious about a chair chase and wondered if i was short of something. But i guess with this discussion, i am clear - some of us put that Glass ceiling on our head by choice because we dont want the stars anyway. And that is okay too. A glass ceiling is bad if it fell on top of you because of the system, culture or boss. Or even if you do that to yourself when you have ample potential but no fire. From here on whatever i grow to be will be bonus.

What he does not know is that he was my bonus. The best coaching i ever had. It was such a joy to be with someone who had accepted all he is and is not, who works hard and allows the cosmos and its people to recognize him. A person satisfied in his work, home, family and acquisitions, actually having meaningful weekends and saving for retirement. Someone who does not spend a single moment in the day thinking about competition, peer comparisons, wild political strategies and lobbying.  This gave him time to be himself. And guess what ? That is why he stands out. For being the Buddha in the room. While i am not Nostradamus to tell what tomorrow will bring, i will not be surprised if he is 7 inches taller, when he retires.