Network now.

Three months back I met Mosses, a friend who lost his job due to the downturn. It was a surprise why he lost his job. After all, two weeks before our meeting, he was regarded as a key performer, someone integral to the organization's long term plans. Alas, a day can bring in unforeseen and dramatic changes. Mosses was aghast but guess what - it lasted just for a day. He leveraged his expansive network spanning various social networks to seek another permanent job. The response according to him was overwhelming.He was in fact finding it tough to say no to many of them.

Well, the point is that we have come a long way since the days of inland letters, trunk calls and even emails. It just takes a few clicks to activate ones 'network.' More importantly, it is simpler, cost effective and real time. It can be customized to individual needs - one way networking, two ways or multiple ways. In essence, the network can be leveraged to suit ones intended benefits - a reason why Networking hitherto restricted to the extroverts has many takers today. It's kiddish says a successful senior executive, while discussing benefits of the ubiquitous social network. That's when I take the example of Mosses who could seamlessly transition to a new job because of his network. Competition is implausible irrespective of the field, and the market one is in. What one is today need not necessarily remain so. Remember, there is a need to develop a competitive advantage for self more than ever. While firms big and small communicate their competitive differentiators for garnering market share, why not individuals? The task has in fact become imperative. The power of networking help individuals to strongly communicate their differentiators.

Variety is the spice of life

Dad put in over 20 years at Tata Tea and when he finally managed to pull himself out of the comfort zone, he felt he missed out on a lot of learning, which could have been assimilated from outside. Ever since that conversation, I've been in pursuit of variety - for want of better exposure. When companies seek diversity to foster creative thinking, why can't employees adopt the same strategy - i.e, seek diverse employers to accumulate 'best practices'? Nothing wrong, I would say, if one has a sound objective while pursuing variety.A friend of mine recently decided to move on from an MNC consultancy after putting in two years.His chat with me clearly pointed out something significant - in work, as in love, one has to follow his/her heart. As mentioned in my earlier posts, it's important to focus on what matters most as a person. It enables one derive utmost satisfaction from a value perspective - monetarily and otherwise. Why? As one spends time pursuing personal goals that are closely aligned with professional ones, leveraging capabilities inherent or assimilated, one feels that the time is being spent intelligently. In my friend's case - his focus was on social media, his personal interest lie in the same and so does his capabilities.

There are couple of points that one could introspect on:

a. Brand equity - Is brand equity of an employer a priority? There is a phase in ones career, when big labels make a difference. Learning here might not be substantial but from a career perspective - it provides the necessary impetus.

b. Nature of job - There are people who are driven by freedom to do what they want, something intellectually stimulates drives them, challenge is a stimulant. What matters is doing what interests them with enough autonomy. Place of work is not a priority.

c. Security - These are people who have learnt to adapt to a particular atmosphere, developed an ecosystem with people that time and again repose faith in them. They grow at their own pace with the belief that growth is rapid and in synch with industry. These are typically those in PSUs and old economy companies. They hate job hopping and hoppers.

d. Rewards - With increasing peer pressure, there are people who jump in search of monetary rewards. Serious employers will be skeptical in hiring these folks as their CV resembles that of a 'pole vaulter.'

As for me, am continuously in search of challenges that will enable me assimilate 'best practices.'