Celebrating 8th work anniversary
My 8th work anniversary was a reflective moment. It made me think of a pertinent question – What motivates someone to continue working at the same organisation for long? Unlike the earlier generation, the millennials do not wish to become a furniture at the workplace.
Changing jobs every 3-4 years has become a global norm. According to a 2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey of baby boomers on an average Americans change 12 jobs in a lifetime. In 2019 LinkedIn’s Career Pathways survey found 57% Indian professionals would consider switching careers to get close to their dream job. Professionals give greater value to what they love in making a career choice, follow work-life balance, offers better monetary benefits and provides them learning and growth opportunities.
Working Professionals
My career path has not been different. This is my longest period at the same workplace. In fact when I completed 3 years someone commented, “You have crossed your own record. Now will you also be called the furniture?” At the same time I would always wonder how one of my friend has not changed jobs since a decade that I have known her.
It is indeed difficult for many of us to understand how our parents and their generation worked at the same place for 20, 30 or even 40 years? They were content with the salary, pension if any and retire.
A growing and populous metropolis like Mumbai can throw different challenges at a working professional. Navigating Mumbai’s traffic, annual ordeals during monsoon, long hours on road due to ongoing infrastructure projects made the murmurs of remote working, flexible work hours and proximity of work and office louder in the last few years.
2020 – The Transformation
Then dawned 2020 and Covid-19. The year has completely changed our notions of workspaces. We became remote workers, video calls and virtual team meetings became our daily routine. Once yearning for flexibility, we started waiting for physical meetings. Along with financial safety, professional security, mental health and well-being of our loved ones has become our top priority.
Therefore, these changing circumstance made me think of the last 8 working years. These reflections unwrapped some aspects often missed while considering our professional decisions:
Personal and Professional Goals
Looking within. It is important to understand our personal and professional goals. Are these goals aligned with the organisational objectives? This process may take long. Job switch or career changes in the initial years happen as we are trying to find this reason.
Self – motivation
There will come a phase where you are not happy or restless. Maybe you are not getting the right kind of projects or assignments, feel there is no direction or you are not connecting with people around. Self-motivation and self-learning plays a critical role in this period.
Are you equipped or prepared to handle certain projects? How do you find direction when you feel the void? Are you building productive relationships with our teams, superiors, clients or others? Which new skills or outcomes will help you in moving ahead professionally?
Learning new skills
The nature and eligibility for jobs is changing very rapidly, more so in last few months. Therefore, how does one become relevant for the evolving career needs? If your organisation giving you the necessary training opportunities? If so, are you utilising them to the fullest? How are you adapting these acquired skills in your current role?
Workplace environment and culture
We spend maximum time at workplace and with our colleagues. Hence our relationships and bonds with this extended family is integral to our work life. A positive and supportive workplace will become your strong support system while navigating professional and personal challenges. It will enrich your personality with compassion, empathy. Also, it makes you stronger and well equipped to face new-age job responsibilities.
Work-Life Balance
Professionals today want to pursue dream careers and personal passions. Following hobbies, involving in volunteer projects or even contributing to some social projects gives them sense of fulfillment. Does your organisation support these initiatives? How does it encourage your creativity?
Leadership
Leadership defines the soul of any organisation. How accessible or approachable are the leaders? What values, goals and vision does the leadership believe in? Moreover, displaying leadership in areas beyond professional sphere reflects on the tenacity of the leaders and their commitment towards their employees.
Crisis Behaviour
Millions of Indians have experienced the need of personal, professional and financial security for the first time since last few months. We have become conscious about many things in life and one of them will be taking important career decisions. Hence the response of companies, individuals and communities during Covid-19 will define many associations and relationships in the days to come.
Value Creation
My reflections also lead to another question – Does long tenure at one workplace make us complacent? Or make us less ambitious? What is the next step in professional growth?
The answer, guided by my faith in Nichiren Buddhism, was value creation. What value will a new opportunity add personally, to the current / new organisation and to the society at large?
As I was reflecting on these winning thoughts, a development made me happy and proud. My organisation was voted amongst top 3 PR firms in the Asia Pacific region. This article mirrored my reflections of spending 8 out of these 10 years as our company reaches for the skies.
Nurture Winning Thoughts !
Tejal
