20 lessons over two decades — Part 2

As I share the final installment of the 20 lessons series, I am reminded of Jacob who early on in his career was identified as a high potential employee working in the Operations department for a multi-national in the consumer goods sector. The company invested in his learning and development through training and exposure to other markets resulting in his expatriation to other countries. His meteoric rise up the corporate ladder was both the envy and inspiration of his peers. Jacob’s career continued to flourish having penetrated the top levels of management and after 15 years with the company, his trajectory was disrupted with a retrenchment package.
Layoffs and downsizing by companies are common unfortunately in Jacob’s case he didn’t see it coming and suffered from depression as a result for a couple of years following the event. As employees it’s important to embrace uncertainty and accept retrenchment, management changes, the state of the economy and mergers and acquisitions as a positive opportunity.
Most people gravitate towards making safe choices or waiting until they have all the information before making a decision, taking calculated risks helps you accumulate a record of successes; failure should be seen as an opportunity for personal development.
During my colorful career, I spent 3 years as a Human Resources practitioner and during recruitment we hired T-shaped individuals who exhibited expertise in one area and also demonstrated a breadth of knowledge in other disciplines. It is therefore important to consolidate your expertise and have an agile mindset -get involved in projects outside your skillset and never stop learning.
One way of growing and learning is to keep moving every 3–5 years, there is a tendency to take up permanent residence in the companies we work for however be fearless and take advantage of the exciting and challenging prospects in the rapidly changing business world.
Throughout my career journey, I’ve learnt that leadership is about others — as leaders, we are responsible for finding and drawing out the potential in others to learn, create and excel. The best legacy you can leave is to impact the life of another human being in this way.
The workplace can be a minefield of hidden agendas. For example, battles may be waged over e-mails discretely veiled behind polite words such as ‘kindly’ and ‘please.’ Although it is easier said than done, in every instance, it’s important to take a step back and manage your emotions to avoid stepping into pitfalls.
Career demands and job burnout can often be overwhelming and require a support system by way of a mentor, professional association or colleagues in a similar job/industry. Build your network to include key trusted individuals who can help you navigate through occupational turbulence.
Circumstances change and significant life events such as illness, marriage, a baby, divorce or death of a loved one can hamper productivity. In most instances, the work suffers and there is a tendency to unintentionally drop the ball. It’s important to know that you can wade through your personal trials without the fear of losing your job. Without sharing too many details, be candid with your boss and team so they can lend their professional support.
Friendships require time and effort — be intentional about investing in your network by staying in touch and spending time with people in your professional circle. This can have significant payoffs such as knowledge sharing as well as access to resources and growth opportunities.
There are many more lessons, I have only shared a few that have been valuable throughout my career journey and path to self-discovery. In these rapidly changing times, it is my hope that people don’t end up like Jacob but feel empowered to sail through the storms of their professional life to enjoy rewarding and successful careers.
