“I picked you (for the job) because you like airports”, “Start from the basics”… And other stories about attitude vs. skills.

Welcome back everyone!

First of all, a huge THANK YOU to all of those who read, commented, messaged me about my last post on "Taking toxic waste back home" - it struck a cord with many of you so remember you are not alone in your journey of being better people/professionals (while at the same time avoiding toxic bosses and environments and not becoming like that.)

In Part 4 I talk about taking some risks, and also about bosses who can see beyond basic working skills/CVs and are fundamental to one's career development and success. This story is really the flip-side of the bosses encountered in the previous one and hopefully strikes an optimistic and positive tone for all of you! So, let's go!

In 2008, after almost 10 years of a pretty fulfilling career in Finance, that allowed me to live in different places and work with different teams and brands, I decided to take a sabbatical. That company had included sabbaticals as part of their company/employee policies. That company was also great at building with you a ‘career blueprint’. That’s a euphemism for ‘future job list’ that captures the next couple potential roles you can have in the company. These roles ought to be aligned with the company’s needs but also your interests and development goals. It’s such a powerful tool that if used properly, can give the employee perspective on how (s)he can grow but also set expectations in this employee-employer relationship. (I promise to write a separate article about how giving employees perspective increases retention more than a big fat salary increase.)

I had my next job lined up for…after the sabbatical. Group Finance Manager Cost Accounting EMEA. It was great (so I was told) because it would complement my accounting skills AND give me access to the next level in Finance later on. Ehmmm… True.

 Ten days before my 14-week sabbatical, I showed up in the office and told my Finance VP that I don’t want to work in Finance anymore and want to try a ‘broadening assignment’ in Sales. I received a great parable (=a story) about how ‘the way to success can be a Highway which is fast but sometimes boring or it can be a picturesque drive in the Forest that allows you to discover new things…but usually takes more time (at best) or gets you completely lost (at worst)”. I picked the Forest, said goodbye to everyone and was told that they would let me know about my new role in due time. That was 6 weeks later, over a public wall-phone (no GSM) in a hostel in Peru, when I was told I would work in Travel Retail in something like ‘regional trade marketing manager’ that I didn’t quite understand. I said thanks, hung up and kept travelling for another 2 months.

Fast forward Jan 2009, I meet my new boss, Ms L for the first time. She was a seasoned commercial executive with tons of experience ranging from Beauty care in the UK, to organised trade in N.America to the Easter Europe expansion and Russia economic meltdown in the late 90’s/early ‘00s. She had just arrived in Geneva and let’s say it was one of those people that I immediately clicked very well with in the first 10 minutes (Check my previous post about ‘first impressions’). Direct, Positive, Genuine, Active-listening, Empathy, Low Power distance…you got, she was awesome.

 The conversation goes well but it's a discussion I've never had before: L is not asking me anything about what I know in Finance, the roles I held in the past, how many people I managed, what's my toughest/proud/challenging moment (you know all the canned questions you get) but she’s focusing on my love for travel and airports and is asking me what my observations were about the airports’ shopping environment that I visited. To keep in mind: I love airports. I always have. They are the gateway to everything that can be different to where you currently live. People, tastes, smells, culture, architecture, everything. That visible excitement and beaming face combined with my accurate observations eye about the TR beauty section probably made the right impression. “I will get back to you, but I don’t think the role they originally said they would give you is the right one”.

I love airports. I always have. They are the gateway to everything that can be different to where you currently live. People, tastes, smells, culture, architecture, everything...

 I don’t’ remember the next conversation verbatim but here’s how it went: “So, Kostas, your new role (the Sales 'broadening assignment') is Area Manager Nuance.” For those less familiar, Nuance was a Travel Retailer that eventually was taken over by Dufry to evolve into a global TR powerhouse.

L went on: "This is a job below your current level but it’s the right one to learn the basics. Your Finance skills are good, but we need to make sure you can sell. And that’s only going to happen if you get in front of customers and also take some solid Sales training. This job is calibrated at a lower level vs. your current level in Finance but it’s an investment for the future, let’s see how all this works out for you...” Wait a minute, I thought, this sounds like the grey Highway just turned into a thick Forest. Then again, learning new things from the beginning? I'll take it!

 The rest is (grateful) history. That role was fundamental to my evolution as a professional. I learned the basics, leveraged my finance skills, and built my credibility as a Salesperson. How on earth could I lead and train a team of Salespeople without getting first slammed a door in my face (ok, TR is much nicer than that, but you get the point). Above all I realised how much I love Travel Retail and the commercial aspects of the job, something I would have never done with the other generic higher-level role that they had initially slated for me. And when the right moment came and there was a Team leader job opening in Sales, I was there to get it, and felt confident I could do it.

 Years later I asked: “Why did you pick me for that job?” “Because you like airports & travel, you have a sharp eye and because that was the right job to set you up for success.”

Years later I asked: “Why did you pick me for that job?” “Because you like airports..."

Some companies need Scissors and just that: They want them to cut. For driving nails, they hire Hammers. That’s all they look at in the CVs. And make sure they have the right supply of Hammers and Scissors to do the work. (that's what they call "talent management"). That’s all fine if people understand that all they will be doing in that company is hit or cut.

Problems arise for two reasons: i) When Scissors hope to turn into Hammers without taking risks and learning. You also need to take risks, sometimes 'lose the level', in some cases stepping back is only to give you more space to jump further or run faster. In a 30-year career trying something different once or twice and making it work is a bet you can take. And you should take. ii) When companies promise Hammers that eventually they will grow into cutting and then they never give them the chance either because they are too short-sighted or because they simply don't care.

But then again, occasionally someone realises that you can drive a nail with the back of a Scissors and it’s equally well done. And more fun.

 So, what’s the lesson: If you are an employee take a risk, try something different it can change you completely and don't let anyone tell you about Highways and Forests.

And if you are hiring, look beyond the CV, the title, the work history and the bullet points, look at the person you are hiring. Don't chose based only on what he knows but for who (s)he is and what (s)he can be for your team and the company. And give him the right job to succeed.

Until next time, stay safe, stay thankful!

All views expressed in these posts are my own and do not represent the opinions of any entity with whom I have been, am currently or will be affiliated in the future. This is (maybe) a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are (perhaps) either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental (...or not)