How does one build a career? The starting point is self-motivation. Consider the lives of successful politicians, businessmen or academicians. They are all self-motivated, have the urge to achieve their goals and accomplish the extraordinary.
One can have any goal: to become a policeman, teacher or an entrepreneur. Goals can also be changed, but once you make up your mind, you must give your best to achieve them. Contrary to common belief, a fat salary or a fast promotion is not adequate motivation. Actually, these are the results of achievement.
For a successful career, you must have a distinct work philosophy and clear objectives. Set goals like learning to be innovative, adding value and contributing more than the job demands. You may not be recognised, rewarded or get the big hike and promotion immediately, but nothing can keep a good person down. Remember that, ultimately, you will get your due.
Always focus on your targets and strive for excellence because performance is the only reality. If your motivation is just the next hike or promotion, your goals will be myopic. You are likely to become frustrated and disappointed because reality and perception are often different.
It was the economic slowdown that provided a reality check. Today, companies have realised that across all management levels, rewards must be linked to the value that an employee adds to the organisation. This is the reason pay packages are more reasonable today and salaries are unlikely to hit the absurdly high levels of the pre-slowdown era. An employee is valuable to an organisation as long as he adds greater value than his job demands and his contribution makes a visible impact. Remember, leaders and high achievers stand out in a group and are not difficult to spot.
Today, the scope of specialists is limited, though they are indispensable. Multi-tasking has become crucial in the current job market. If you can add value to a company in more ways than one, you are unlikely to get the axe during a job crisis, such as the one we saw a year ago. So, never restrict yourself to what you are asked to do. Look for ways in which you can add more value. Do not be a time server or get involved in the corporate game of kowtowing to your boss. This may work in the short term, but in the long run, you are likely to lose out.
Your dream should be to develop capabilities and expertise that showcase your talent and innovativeness. Strive to overachieve and stand out for your self-motivation. Change is rapid and constant, so you should keep learning to become better at your job. Continuous development is the only way forward. In a competitive environment, some people lose, others win. The only way to remain on the winning side is to never stop upgrading one's skills. You must be outwardly focused on converging with the organisation's goals, not inwardly focused on the happenings at the workplace.
Corporates can also do their bit to help employees achieve these dreams. They must create an open, fair, merit-based, transparent and collegial culture within the organisation. It should be a marketplace where people compete for positions, where roles are chosen on merit and achievement, and people pick the roles they want to play.
An organisation's culture is very important to draw the best from its employees. Compensation and working conditions are hygiene factors, but without the right culture that focuses on merit, growth and success, companies cannot get the best from their teams. Neither will they be able to attract or retain the best people. The organisation's dream and that of its employees should converge and there should also be a congruence of interest. This can happen only over a period of time as differences between reality and need will always exist. All great organisations exhibit these characteristics and enable the charting of successful careers.
How to make a career plan
Follow these three steps to make your job more rewarding and satisfying.
Map your path
Find out what you want
Continue with your job if...
...it satisfies you on both counts.
Change your job if....
...it does not fufil your aspirations.
Set specific goals
Re-strategise
The writer is Director, HR, Education & Research, and heads the Infosys Leadership Institute.
