Tuesday 1 November 2011

The 'how' of a successful career

The days of nine to five jobs are now history. Work and workplace alike are getting increasingly spirited and aggressive; and with them, efforts to build a booming career equally difficult too. There are more than twenty four hours in a day and more is anticipated from workers. Under such circumstances, employees have to really slog to stand out amongst the crowd and if they do not, they do so out of them.
Every body is required to use the principle of output management to derive maximum benefits. But outputs should not be at the cost of excellence. Time will always be running short and hence opportunities to impress will be correspondingly less. Therefore, it will always be apt to focus efforts in the correct direction, simultaneously ensuring that deadlines are met.
There are several methods, systems and procedures, all different from one another that an employee can adopt to chart out a successful career. These are:
·   Gauging the extent of output:
This is a mandatory requirement for career progression and can be used to great benefit and gain. The answer to this vexed essentiality is to not give undertakings or make tall promises; one ought to be modest about capabilities and pledge accordingly about projects and assigned tasks.
To put it in simple words, the technique requires promising less and delivering more. For example, if a project requires three days for completion, there is nothing wrong in seeking five days from the boss. Subsequently, when the work is completed ahead of schedule, the employee image registers a very significant boost in the eyes of the employer.
The lawyer fraternity uses this technique more than anybody else; perceived intricacies, loopholes and weaknesses are invariably highlighted to the clients. But when the judgment is delivered, it speaks volumes of the advocate. This method can immensely help those wanting to excel in a workplace environment. After all, there is nothing wrong in a little bit of self-promotion.
·   Getting into minutiae:
The requirement is to get noticed and acknowledged by the boss. But time will always be at a premium and hence the most vital point is to focus on issues that are his key requirement areas or that are likely to be observed by him.
Some people may assert that this technique smacks of opportunism, but since there is no cut-throat or letting down of others involved or being indulged in, there is no harm adopting it. Some time needs to be spent researching what the boss is generally seeking or on the lookout for. It will be sheer wastage of time concentrating efforts on items that the boss is unlikely to look for or is disinterested in.
It is always better to devote little time in identifying aspects that receive maximum consideration of the boss, prioritize them and then proceed to concentrate on them. Needless to say but very significant is the issue of time management. The foregoing is very important in an atmosphere where rapidity and tempo are key attributes. The magnitude of importance registers an additional boost if employees have the option to choose what they ought to do and decide on the priorities for their accomplishment. Therefore, the need to
·   Avoiding Multitasking:
Inferences drawn from workplace research indicate that if an individual concentrates his or her effort on several projects simultaneously, the results achieved are qualitatively inferior. Such outcomes adversely affect the efficiency and output factors. Therefore, undertaking a number of run-of-the-mill projects at a single point of time is unlikely to facilitate career progression. At best, it will ward off the pink slip.
Individuals who excel or get involved with exceptional assignments invariably get noticed. And individuals who get noticed get recognition. So, when promotions are round the corner, they are likely to reap improved and enhanced benefits. It is of little consequence if the time taken to complete a singular project is relatively more; on the contrary, better output quality is always desirable.
             The truth of the matter is that if one can plan on what work is required to be done and then do that work in accordance with the plan, the workload that is involved will be subjected to better control. And if the load associated with the work gets reduced, stress levels also diminish. It should never be forgotten that a disorganized and overwhelming atmosphere leads to poor performance too.
            People can sweat and toil, work day in and day out and never stop aspiring to better their career prospects. But if they focus on incorrect details, there is the likelihood that they together with their effort will never get noticed. Any body who understands that a specific task may get him or her into limelight is bound to make it to the top. They will cease to be face in the crowd. And lastly, mediocre performance will take none anywhere.
           

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