Complacency. Merriam Webster’s simple definition of the word is “a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better: a complacent feeling or condition“.
Why do I bring this up? As a career coach who works with many people during times of work transition, often the first realization these clients have after being let go is “What do I do now? I’ve been so busy I haven’t kept up with my network! I don’t know what’s out there! Help!”
Of course, as a career coach, I work through this time of turmoil with them, we ‘right the ship‘ so to speak. I like to say I help pick them up, dust them off and provide them with the tools to get back out there. Whew! They land that next great job and then what? You guessed it!
Complacency.
They are so busy with their day to day responsibilities (at work and at home) that there’s no time to pick their heads up, look around and keep their eyes on the ball. What’s ‘the ball’? The ‘ball‘ is their careers. There’s no time for informal lunches and coffees with people in their network or with colleagues or mentors Mentors? Please, how many people know what a mentor is or how important they are to a career? Most people feel they don’t have time to take the reins of their careers. They did a great job of it when they needed it (when they were out of work and looking for a job) but, now that they have one, complacency kicks in.
What can you do?
#1. Set aside time every week for keeping in touch with your network. Whether it’s a lunch or a coffee or a phone call or an after work drink. Don’t be afraid to expand your network. Know what’s happening in their world and how that might relate to you. This will help you stay on top of changes in organizations –including your own– and how those changes might affect you. I call this ‘keeping your finger on the pulse.’ You will learn what might be coming down the pike in your organization or others.
#2. If you are lucky enough to have a boss who wants to progress your career, stay in regular contact with her. Ask for quarterly update meetings to discuss what you are working on, what you’d like to be working on and where you see yourself as the next step in your career. Make sure to highlight your accomplishments. You know what you’ve accomplished. Does she? It doesn’t necessarily have to be a promotion you’re after but perhaps increased or diverse responsibilities to help grow your skill set, broaden your expertise and increase your worth to the company.
#3. Ensure that you are not always ‘head down’ and not aware of what’s happening around you. Do the people in your organization (laterally and one and two levels above you) know you exist? Do they know what you are doing? Do they know what you are capable of doing? Do they know what you want to do? Are they aware of your accomplishments? In other words, when new roles are being developed, is your name coming to mind for them? When downsizing is about to occur, is it your name on the ‘keep’ list because of what you bring to the organization, your accomplishments, your flexibility, your skill set? Don’t work in a bubble…get out there.
#4. Are you keeping up with the times? Are you keeping abreast of what’s happening in your industry? You may think you don’t have time to attend conferences and seminars and workshops and networking events but, guess what, you can’t afford not to. The people you will meet and the learning you will gain is invaluable. Think about what you have done in the past 1, 3 5 years to advance your learning. If it’s all ‘on the job’, then it’s not enough. And don’t forget about learning something new and valuable. If you are in IT, don’t just think about new programming (although that might be important). Think outside the box here. Think about what is required in your next role. Are you missing anything? What’s the gap here? Once you identify it, fill it so that, when that role is available, you are qualified for it and, because people in your organization are aware of you and your capabilities, your name will already be top of the list.
#5. Lastly, don’t ignore social media. There’s a wealth of information out there on the web to keep you current in your field, in your industry, on what’s happening around you. Don’t ignore the power of LinkedIn to position you as a subject matter expert. Take a few minutes each day (or some time each week), to see what’s happening in your network — new mergers, new roles, what’s happening with your network. Follow companies of interest and people of influence. Ensure your LinkedIn profile is optimized and, if you are sharing information or posting, keep it relevant to your career so that you begin to been seen as a subject matter expert.
What’s the learning here? Take the reins of your career? Manage it well. Nurture it. Watch it grow.
Oh, and I came across this great little piece on making yourself indispensable at work. While I think most of us are dispensable, being seen as a valuable contributor will go a long way toward helping you realize your career aspirations.
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