Are you still relevant in your in your job?
With current high rates of unemployment globally those of us fortunate enough to have jobs see it as a victory. As a result some cling on to jobs and overstay their welcome. Globally there have been stories of executives who were unceremoniously kicked out for various reasons. Key among these are abuse of office and poor performance.
There is an inexorable feeling of privilege when a person stays in an organisation for too long. A sense of entitlement will eventually cloud professional judgement. “Overstaying†in this context is not defined by the duration a person stays in an organisation. It is however a function of time it takes an individual to feel entitled. Which could be a result of a lengthy stay in an organisation. Bullish behavior can appear even in the absence of tangible and visible results of one's presence. Alternatively, it could be an attitude that stems from how individuals they attach their presence to success in an organisation. After years of success with an organisation various professionals catch the “dinosaur mentalityâ€, they become arrogant, kill innovation and ultimately kill the same organisation they helped grow.
As expected such employees eventually leave unceremoniously after being pressured for various reasons legal or otherwise. This is not unique to a specific group of professionals or organisations. Any professional including drivers who feel no one should touch their truck or a waiter who feels they should be the one to serve affluent customers do feel entitled. According to Drew Anne Scarantino’s piece in Forbes Magazine Employers sometimes equate job longevity with laziness, lack of flexibility or worse—fear of change. Depending on the particular job or career the signs of overstaying do vary a lot. Below are some things to avoid and remain relevant in your job. ?
- Do not shoot down new ideas without due diligence. Do not use the excuse, “I have been here longer than you, I know how this worksâ€
- Do not normalize prioritizing friendships over competency. You will eventually surround yourself with poorly performing very friendly people. ?
- Do not argue over insignificant things like chairs, desks, and spots on the meeting table etc.?Focus on what matters.
- History is good but constantly ask yourself what you have contributed recently. Are you steering the ship or you have become a burden?
- Do not stay for the sake of staying simply because you feel they are part of the company’s history even though you have no value to add anymore.?
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One way to avoid overstaying or problems related with it is to invest more in your career through networking, rejuvenating your skills. Go into consultancy, start your practice etc. Extend your networking activities outside of your company to the broader industry. Changing environment also stimulates your thinking as a professional. Do not cause discomfort to others because of your professional insecurities.
A good dancer knows when to leave the stage
Disclaimer: Views, thoughts & opinions expressed in this article belong solely to me, and not necessarily to my current or previous employers.
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Security and Risk Management| Crisis Management| Strategic & Operational Analysis
5 个月I just read a post by Robert Greene that aligns with you post today. It says, in the future, the great division will be between those who have trained themselves to handle these complexities and those who are overwhelmed by them -- those who can acquire skills and discipline their minds and those who are irrevocably distracted by all the media around them and can never focus enough to learn..and I completely agree.