Feeling Imprisoned at work and with no Bailout?!

‘How much longer should I wait for a new role?’ ‘But I was told I am ready for a promotion?!’ ‘What more do I have to do to grow my responsibility and role?’ ‘It was a false promise then?! I should have explored outside the organization!’

These were the frustrated thoughts shared with me on a recent assignment coaching over a dozen senior executives in a global bank’s operations. Nothing here sounded startling as I hear it all the time across sectors and levels.

The dilemma is multifold. Organisations and leaders have finite, and mostly limited, opportunities for executives to grow and enhance their roles and responsibilities. The window for these is open for a very short period and intermittently, not perpetually. Sadly, not all leaders are aware of the talent that are ready and willing to take on challenging or greater roles.

From an executive’s perspective, they are more comfortable with a steady and organic growth, usually defined by years of experience in their current role. Then begins a series of career growth conversations usually limited to promotion talk or an enhanced role. They have little awareness of their own capabilities, competencies or credibility. In most career conversations, they sound more adamant than convincing on why they deserve to grow.

For the organization and leaders, they need to be very clear on the points below.

-         Who are the top talent and what are the probable vertical/lateral paths for their growth

-         Discussions on their career should be multiple than a mere annual tick box

-         No false promises or raising of hopes. 

-         Do not make the executives feel ‘imprisoned’ and hold on to the ambitious ones. The urge to escape will grow, and worse, can create a contagion!

The executives will have to be realistic and take full responsibility of their career.

-         Present facts on achievements (versus goals) consistently and desist from adamantly demanding growth based on mere seniority or experience

-         Have patience to wait for opportunities but draw your own, reasonable deadlines before exploring outside; else, your career could start stagnating

-         Be adaptable to explore opportunities beyond your current skills and strengths, on mobility, the business/functional vertical, and so on.

Afterall, anyone ambitious enough and who feels justified to be set free is constantly looking for ways to find a break in the wall!