One of the most common traits across the majority of workers throughout the world is the thirst for career advancement. The methods employed in seeking this advancement are as diverse as the people and cultures involved. As one seeks career growth it is important to do so through appropriate and generally accepted principles.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Countless people employ unorthodox means to chart their way up the ladder. A most common tactic is cheating. Cheaters use this technique to misrepresent their true abilities. In so doing, they are able to reap where they have not sown.
For instance, an individual may create a false image by misrepresenting facts on their past work experience. In so doing, they may get a position they do not deserve at the expense of a more qualified individual.
Others have perfected the art of riding on the backs of others. Such individuals over delegate and stress their team mates to do all the work as they take home the glory at the expense. Still others are experts at bullying fellow staff to tow the line not for the organisation’s benefit, but for selfish reasons.
Such individuals will not waste an opportunity to unfairly whip staff for production to get the management’s eye. At the end of the day, they benefit within the short term but create long term problems for the organisation.
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And others are experts in building political alliances with the powers they have to gain unfair advantage over colleagues. Most political power brokers are hopelessly inefficient and would never make it without power politics. Unfortunately, such individuals only end up creating a myriad of problems for the organisation.
For instance more able staff may leave in a huff out of frustration. In their quest to maintain political power, they may discourage astute professionals from joining the organisation by creating hiccups at the recruitment stage since they are averse to competition. And the list goes on and on.
As the saying goes, growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of a cancer cell. Seeking career growth though dubious techniques only serves you in the short term. Such techniques are difficult to duplicate across time and organisations. The modern organisation has also become very over sensitive. As such you are unlikely to get very far before getting busted. Usually, such careers usually end abruptly as individuals are unable to move on after getting busted in one organisation.
So what can one do? The answer is simple. Build your career based on the principles of hard work, commitment, honesty and integrity, selflessness and a positive mental attitude at all times. Have a clear career growth plan with clear objectives to boot.
Seek to be an active team player who regards others as human beings and not mere objects to use for personal gratification. Get into the habit of periodically reviewing your progress with the intention of continuously improving your offering in the market. Envisage building alliances based on performance and professional appeal and never on relationships cemented with ego.
Whatever you do remember that you have only one lifetime to build an awesome career and if you do it well, once is enough.
—The writer is a human resource specialist and co-Author of ‘The Career Code’. Email address: goretti@peoplelink.co.ke
