Success is a word that conveys special meaning – actually many special meanings.
Ask 100 people to define success. Some will focus on professional aspects; i.e., career, title, money and status. Others focus on personal aspects, i.e., good health, family, friendships & faith. In subsequent posts, we’ll discuss the impact of professional success on work/life balance. But this post will focus on professional success. More specifically, can you achieve success in your job, if your employer isn’t also being successful?
At work, most people have some idea of what success means, to them, individually. But what if their success doesn’t also lead to success for their employer? For example, in the sports world, does it matter if a running back rushes for a 100 yards, or a baseball player hits 3 home runs, if their team loses the game?
Employers and employees sometimes struggle to align each other’s interest, which begs the question, “What is the degree of alignment?” In every company, every person is hired to get a job done. Part of a leader’s job is aligning the interests of employer and employee so both can win. However, when things get out of alignment, leaders are also required to make difficult decisions; some of those decisions adversely impact people’s careers.
Conversely, when key people decide to leave their jobs, their departures can also create hardships. So employees and employers both learn what’s good for one isn’t necessarily good for the other.
But when mutual interests are aligned, employees achieve their individual goals through fostering the success of their employers’ goals and both win. The impact on organizational success is remarkable. It’s the difference between:
Truly committed people, or those merely showing up for a paycheck.
Employing the hearts and minds of your people, not just their hands.
Increases in hard data (productivity, EBITDA) and soft (morale, engagement).
As an executive recruiter, my job is to find people who help my clients succeed. They do this by capitalizing on opportunities, solving problems and cutting costs, etc. Their individual success in these arenas directly impact the success of my client. The two form a partnership that serves the interests of both.
People at work should thrive in their success. Theoretically, so should their employers. Can there be one without the other? Yes and no.
We’d like to start a conversation and get you thinking:
“What does success look like, to me?”
“How can I succeed and help my employer succeed in the process?”
For leaders, “How can I align the goals of both my organization and my people?”
We’ll offer different perspectives. We’ll also offer some pragmatic suggestions, straight out of the real world. They’re designed to refine your discernment, so you’ll make better decisions about your company and your career. We want to hear your ideas as well. Sign up and join the conversation (driesenassociates.com).
There is no substitute for experience. Driesen & Associates, Inc. specializes in talent acquisition and assessment for financial professionals. We’ve successfully completely over 250 search assignments. Put our experience to work for you.
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