Management Articles Series -3 : Career Progression
Progression – Is it ?
Instant imagery that conjures up in most minds , while talking of Career progression is that of : Promotion , Monetary reward , Worldly recognition , Organizational grade / status – Not surprising, given the mental conditioning with which we have grown up. Key question though is , how True is this belief & importantly how helpful it is in navigating our lives towards a desired future !
For greater clarity , we need to understand the difference & right sequencing between a Cause & an Effect – What drives what & hence what is that we need to work on ?– if not , we will be barking on a wrong tree in nurturing our desire for progression to wonder – ‘Why doesn’t it happen for me‘?
Cause v/s Effect , Disease , not Symptom
A familiar analogy , is of mistaking symptoms for the disease & never getting cured . Symptoms are visible signs of having a disease , but they only are the effect of the cause called disease . Hence to get cured , we need to address the disease & not be focused on symptoms
Similarly , while Promotion , Grade / Status , ensuing perquisites are visible indicators that the career is progressing ; in themselves they are not the Progression . As much as these symbols are important or desirable , they come into existence only as a result of the Real happening – they are but a small part of the whole picture - Career progression !
Consequently we should also be clear of the right sequence – One needs to first ‘ qualify’ ( enhanced or varied capability , positive transformation ) for progression , to ‘ earn ‘ / ‘ claim’ its visible signs like a rise in responsibility/ status/money/ position .
Hence those desirous of acquiring these symbols need to know that it is not chasing symbols but working on the foundation cause –self-upgradation, that can help them turn their aspirations into a reality . For the ‘ progression’ to exhibit outside , it needs to happen first within !
Is ‘Success’ , Progression ?
In this materialistic world ,we are brought up to see Success in relative ( in comparison to someone ) than absolute terms ( own achievement / potential ) ; and in more exterior /material dimensions – like Money , Wealth etc than inner transformations. This is the backdrop to our view on progression
Individual expectations on progression ( read – promotion) are driven singularly by individual ambition ( to acquire more visible symbols ) - rather than by ability and a sense of purpose . Our false / inflated sense of Self , distracts us from working on upgrading ourselves to match our ambitions with our abilities .Our relative ( self created ) sense of success makes us more impatient , the more we see our peers ‘ progressing’ ahead of us .
Naturally when many find promotions hard to come by , with unfulfilled expectations ; it leads to frustration , envy & a lot of negative energy into the system .
What is ( Real ) Progression ?
This brings us to the real question – What is “ Progression “ , say in a professional context ?
Let’s start at the root of the issue : Promotion / responsibility upgradation is a recognition by the Organization of an individual’s potential vis-à-vis organizational need , timed by opportunity that may exist at a point in time -- evaluated by the organisation against other options ( internal & external ) it has for the position & seen in the context of Organizational Gain / Cost impact of the decision .
If this is reasonably understood ; it will be clear that promotion has a stronger foundational link with an employee’s future abilities / potential but quite unconnected with his / her ambitions .
Consequently the focus of ( real ) progression should be the quest for constant self upgradation & enhancing / acquiring relevant abilities .Promotion / higher responsibility , material gains are only inevitable result of your enhanced ability .
In an analogy , if one can view self as a ‘Stock’ ( share of a company ) --singular focus should be on increasing own ‘ stock value ‘–resisting distractive urge to ‘ encash ‘ ahead of enhancing value !
It’s in your organization’s interest to not recognize & benefit from your enhanced ability
You should be certain that if your organization fails to ‘ encash’ your enhanced stock – there will be others outside to do that !
Promotion is Not a Reward
Another popular misconception many have , IS Confusing Promotions with Rewards . In reality , these two mechanism are directionally the opposites Rewards are for recognizing past ---good performance , behaviour , achievements ; whereas Promotions are in recognition of future --- banking on the potential of a person to take up a future role . Using promotion as a ‘ reward ‘ – which many organisations yet do , is walking backwards in blind faith that future is an extrapolation of the past– which can not only lead to disastrous results for the organisation , but also can ruin the career of an otherwise currently bright performer .
Progression in Life
Let’s now talk about Progression in life , which to me has a much larger --all encompassing context. Progression ( in life , as in work ) is an enhancement in ability/competence , maturity , mind frame ,perspective to different issues/ challenges --- our growing to be more responsible ! It’s a progressively evolutionary journey in preparation for higher phases in life . This , regardless of the outcome ( ‘ achievements’ ) inevitably leads to enrichment . This is what makes us more equipped to handle higher responsibilities – whether in Work or in Life
The real zest for progression in life therefore is not in chasing symbols ( symptoms ) but investing in continuous self upgradation . This is best captured in an anecdote about Abraham Lincoln- It is said that , standing in front of a mirror , he used to ask himself everyday –. … “ Am I a better person today , than I was yesterday ? “
In any case working on continuous upgradation has no downsides !
This is the most constructive way in nurturing your aspirations than just holding lofty ambitions (& being unsuccessful at that ). This changed perspective thus from ‘ Expectations ‘ to ‘ Action ‘ ; from ‘Self illusion’ to ‘Enlightenment’ ; is the beginning journey on the path of real progression .
Converse is not true ! Just ( wanting & ) buying higher size clothes or shoes does not automatically lead your body to expand to ‘ fill the size ‘ . You need to first expand by outgrowing your current outfits before stepping into ‘ bigger shoes ‘
Who should drive Your progression ?
To answer , you need to be clear on : Who is the biggest stakeholder in your progress … Who is impacted most , by your progression or the lack of it ?
Progression can neither be imposed on , not gifted to ,externally .
It needs to be driven by self . While we may have external resources to collaborate in our journey ; the drive , the passion has to come from within .
I am sure there are many tools / mechanisms one can choose from ; here is sharing a few simple steps , I have followed – if that helps :
- Define your desired destination in a certain ( medium term ) time span .
- Ascertain ‘ what it takes ‘ in terms of abilities , pre requisites to reach there
- Do dispassionate , critical ‘ gap analysis ‘ for self vis-à-vis requirements of the destination
- Draw up action plan to reach there , including garnering resources , helps , collaborators
- Do periodic progress tracking , reflective assessment on how much of the ‘ Gap ‘, you have covered and how much is balance ( with , if any change in factors ) , to fine tune your plan
- Depending on your trust & comfort , enlist a ‘ 3rd party ‘ intervention in terms of feedback , critique & suggestions .
All the very best on your journey of real progression to be a ‘ Better You ‘ !