Development Plan - Critical or Waste of Time?

Currently I'm working on some career development items and I kept bumping into the fact that we have no formal long-term career development plan proceedure. This really surprised me because I always created my own ( what I wanted to do and how I would achieve it). So I set out to do some research on the subject.

There is quite a lot of information out there on the subject but all was pretty "over the top". I finally settled on creating my own format again based off these ideas. It seems many companies have job rotation programs or "experienced commercial leadership program" formats for a select few. But none of these answer the question of what happens to a person who is eventually identified as having potential but is not a part of any such formal job rotation program (none exist at my company)?

So I began sketching out this plan and it really opened my eyes to the dirty little secret these days. Once you get someone good on your team you don't want to promote them ( so that they go on to someone else's team!). Companies are so tapped for people in this era of downsizing that nobody wants to give up their best people. I experienced this firsthand. Well, I'm going out on a limb here because holding someone back can't be good for the business - I've just got to put this person on a faster track. The company will benefit even if I have to work without them. I've heard people continually preach that "you invest all this time in them and then they go and leave". I am convinced that some people deserve even more investment. Companies shouldn't look at it as money wasted but rather money invested ( and returned while that person works here). Ultimately if your company stinks and the person moves on - who is the bad guy? He or she for moving on or you for not improving your company to make it attractive to talented workers?

That is a tremendous risk but ultimately in a knowledge-intensive industry like mine ( engineered / formulated chemical systems ) people are the assets that generate all the return! Products don't invent themselves nor do they make or sell themselves. People do. Good people.

I'm banking on it........I'll post more on the subject when I get it finished.

Change Agent or Sucker?

I gave a presentation to some co-workers earlier this year on "Real Change Leaders" a concept that actually is kind of old but is receiving new emphasis. The concept is that Real Change Leaders (RCLs)can exist at all levels of an organization and can have a significant impact on any business. Here is a quick summary:

Who are they?
Be Curious
Learn from mistakes
Lifetime learners
Question the status quo

What can they do?
Leapfrog over vertical hierarchies
Work informal networks
Personal courage to change and build skills
Take career risks

Where are they?
Any level of an organization
Critical mass needed to make it all stick
Every location, SBU or department

Why are they important?
Increase bench strength and depth of talent
360 degree impact within the organization
Open up leadership capacity without adding people


I firmly believe that they are important and it does work. Others have commented that it is all garbage. So does that make a person who attempts such activites a real change agent or just some sucker for the company to dump more work on (without any more pay)?

Career Development or Waste of Time?

Figured I'd catch up on the Blog here while I wait for the company brick to reboot. Enterprise-hindered laptops seem to haunt me....

I was asked again just today about pursuing an MBA and if it was a waste of time or a carefully planned career development tool. Since I'm pursuing mine in a non-traditional route, I get the question all the time. So I'll answer that and more here..

1. No- It is not a waste of time.

2. It is not a degree factory - I can personally attest to over 1300 hours of reading, research, coursework and many, many papers in the last 19 months. ( still have 2.5 more to go!)

3. I have found out how fast I can type with very little sleep.

4. My iPod helped me get through this phase of my life- honest. It feels like I've had my iPod and my trusty Toshiba Satellite surgically grafted to my body for the last 2 yrs.

5. I have learned so much beyond my experience base ( in sales and marketing) that it is hard to even explain it.

6. It has enabled me to see opportunities where none seemed to exist before. Inside my company, in my personal life, as a spouse and a parent.

7. I negotiated a career-enrichment role at my company because of my learning.


I could go on and on. This degree is like most things in life - the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. So I know it has definitely enriched my life as well as given me a new set of tools for the future no matter if I stay here or have to move on.

Career Growth or Waste of Time?

I was discussing some concepts I'd learned ( and was attempting to apply) from my MBA course recently. A co-worker said "all that stuff is just a waste of time" So, is he right?

I don't think so. Even if my company doesn't allow me to apply it formally ( perhaps in the form of a promotion or expanded role) or reward me for it ( with a raise), I am glad I embarked upon this journey.

I try and apply the principles as often as I can and it really works. The MBA is no sure-fire ticket to the corner office ( especially because mine is not from Wharton). I've learned a great deal and think it can apply in almost every part of my current job.

MBA coursework focuses on tools and training to be a more effective leader and businesperson. A top-line school may offer more career placement or alumni networking or name cachet but many of those programs are limited to full-time school.


If you want to continue working full-time and your company won't support the Executive MBA option and you travel - well then your choices become more limited. Two decades ago you wouldn't have any choices at all.

Like anything in life, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it.

Making A List And Checking It Twice

No this isn't a Christmas time reference, it is an intro into my career list idea. Each year ( ideally every 6 months or more often if you wish) I take all the things I do at work and list them down. I start with the things I like at the top and the things I don't at the bottom. I just let things go and brainstorm.

Then I rearrange the list so that there is a break in the items where I determine things "change" for the negative and draw a line. Then I try to incorporate more of the things I do like and work to divest myself of the things I don't like.

An example:

LIKE

1. Strategic planning and implementation
2. Customer related work
3. Career enrichment assignments
4. MBA Coursework
5. International teamwork projects

DON'T LIKE

1. Day to day grind of sales travel
2. Too broad a focus on daily activities
3. Lack of career advancement potential at current position

So for the next period of time ( for me the next 6-9 months) I will create action plans to do more of what I like and less of what I don't. This helps me to prepare all my career and performance program items at work.

Plus as a bonus, it helps my personal development as well!