Hard workers are passé

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(Published on page J4 of the Job Market-Working People section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 30, 2008, Sunday)

By Roel Andag

Contributor

Welcome the smart workers

HARD WORKERS ARE OBSOLETE. Proof: job advertisements are gradually deleting ‘hardworking’ as candidate qualification.

It used to be that a worker slaved away in the office to get things done, get noticed and eventually promoted. The ideal worker then was one who dedicated his entire life to the company, rose through the ranks, retired and enjoyed his pension. Never mind if he missed living his life in the process, reasoning that enjoyment will commence only at retirement. It was a worklife pattern entrenched by the Industrial Age. The hard worker is a now relic, a reminder of a predictable past. The modern economy has rendered hard workers irrelevant. The knowledge economy, characterized by breakneck competition and ever shifting fortunes, has spawned smart workers. Don’t dwell in the past, be a smart worker. Here’s how.

Stand out. Expertise will no longer get you ahead. There are just too many experts in too many fields it is already confusing. What will make you lead is being first. You will remember only a few vice presidents in your lifetime. The presidents are the ones who stick in your mind. And you don’t need to become a president either, at least no yet. How can you be first? Be the first in a lucrative field, say, trainer-on-call – one who runs superb corporate trainings on very short notice. Do not conform to established work patterns. Create your own shtick. Reinvent yourself from time to time.

Tune in. While having a master’s degree, learning from trainings and receiving guidance from coaches and mentors are already significant steps, you can go even further. Cultivate ‘spotters’ across industries and countries. They are the ones who will feed you information that is critical in finding fresh opportunities. Of course, don’t gather intelligence just to stay updated. Analyze them for possible business implications. You never know, you already impressed your next employer through a conversation where you casually ‘brainshare’ vital information.

Manage expectations. Smart workers perform and oftentimes exceed the responsibilities detailed in their job profiles. But they do not say yes to every demand. Do not over-commit because it will only result in stress and underperformance. Be judicious in agreeing to requests. Further, agree to expected outputs (results) only when inputs (resources) are specified and adequate.

Remove the blocks. Don’t just hurdle the blocks, root them out completely. These blocks are mostly negative thoughts and actions that climax in career self destruction. These are unfounded fears that present themselves in statements such as “I can’t do that,” “That’s impossible” and “They might think I’m stupid.” It is the box being alluded to in the dictum “Get out of the box.” Shattering the box is the start of spawning bold ideas that will propel your career and the business.

Be super efficient. Efficiency means exerting minimum effort and producing maximum impact. How? Be wise about time, optimize technology and delegate. Propose alternative work arrangements such as telecommuting if it will make you more productive. Efficiency is about getting things done while avoiding wastage.

Get connected. Smart workers are not chained to their desks. They go out and meet people. Don’t be a parasitic networker. Proactively offer help. Join industry e-groups and professional associations. Do not merely lurk in the shadows. Offer something useful – volunteer to organize events, be a resource person, share opportunities. The smart worker is not isolated, he is strategically connected with people here and abroad.

Team up. Vanish your insecurities. A smart worker is confident enough to share what he knows and to solicit other people’s insight. His dynamism to work independently and in a group helps him accomplish his goals. His drive and people skills fuel his chemistry with others. For a smart worker, asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a badge of maturity.

Wield influence. Find your way into the boardroom. You are not a smart worker until you are able to make significant decisions. Not yet a board or management committee member? Earn the trust of one and offer solutions that will help him make decisions. Smart workers never manipulate, they influence. If being employed won’t give you this leeway, become a consultant or establish your own company.

Loosen up. Smart workers live full lives. Unleash your humor and practice de-stressing techniques. They will help you manage the demands of work. Smart workers do not believe in the dichotomy of work and life but in the harmonious melding of the two. After all, how can something on which one spends an average of 40 hours a week be separate from life?

Smart workers are globally competitive – they are at par with the best in their fields. Best of all, they enjoy their lives as much as they love their work. They attract and create opportunities. They release success pheromones that signal “I have arrived” or “I’m on my way.” Don’t become obsolete. Be a smart worker. In time, job advertisements will learn to catch up.

Build a high impact e-persona

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(Published in the Job Market-Working People section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 30, 2008, Sunday)

By Roel Andag

Contributor

Log into your virtual best

THE ACCESSIBILITY OF INTERNET technology is boon to jobseekers and employed professionals alike. Its many benefits include the opportunity to create high-impact cyber personas that can enhance one’s career prospects.

Two sets of actions shape one’s e-persona: creating consumer generated content and engaging in other online activities. The first is proactive – you decide what to present to your audience. The second is reactive – you act on what is being presented to you. The internet is constructive to those who know how to leverage its benefits. Learn from these tips in creating a power-packed cyber persona:

Personal site as infotainment. The career-enhancing character of personal websites and blogs is indisputable. They allow you to market yourself to practically the whole world while you express your feelings freely. This freedom comes with a responsibility. Never upload contents that can jeopardize your career potential. Career-busting contents include online boss-bashing, lewd photos, profane language, scandalous videos and links to porn sites. Sanitize your site but don’t be dull. Provide value-adding content such as tips and how-to’s, publish an e-zine, upload your “in action” photos and videos, update regularly, feature your accomplishments, and include a feedback mechanism and other forms of interaction. You can even incorporate humor, as long as it’s inoffensive. Complete the package with a simple and tasteful layout and a catchy site name. Find the correct balance between information and entertainment and your site will enjoy loyal following that will result in favorable buzz.

Strategic networking. Social networking sites abound. You can choose from Friendster, Multiply, Facebook, LinkedIn and a host of others. Professional networking is not about quantity but quality. The saying “Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are” is a good reminder to those who delight in expanding their online network wantonly. Screen your connections well. Choose only those who you think can broaden your professional prospects. But as I always say, don’t be a parasitic networker. Professional networking is a reciprocal relationship. Reminder: beware of ‘notworking,’ meaning wasting time and money on social networking sites. There is a more effective form of online networking: joining egroups. Become member of active egroups that cater to your industry or interests. Egroups are ideal sources of useful information, leads and contacts. Once a member, be active – participate in discussions, post helpful messages and attend virtual and physical fellowship activities.

Practice workplace ‘netiquette’. Your office intranet was established to facilitate workplace communication. You defeat the purpose if you choke your officemates' inboxes with unprofessional material such as YouTube clips, repulsive jokes, weird photos and quizzes. There is a great chance that you are spreading viruses so do not hit the send button gratuitously. Establish personal online time by checking your inbox only three times maximum within the day, and only for one hour each time. Regulating your online time will discipline you to avoid aimless web surfing. Set a turnaround time for answering emails, say, within 24 hours from receipt at the latest.

When sending emails, always make sure that

(a) you're sending the right document to the right person,

(b) attachments are in order,

(c) the subject is indicated in the subject line,

(d) the message is free of spelling and grammar errors, and

(e) that all intended receivers are included in the address lines.

If you commit a blunder, admit it and institute remedies quickly. Never apply for a job using the office internet account. Last but not least, never peruse cyberporn. The people in IT department – they know what you do everyday – can be summoned to present evidence of questionable internet use.

Beware of split personality. With its magical properties, the internet helps us transform ourselves into more beautiful versions – slimmer, more engaging, more desirable. Or it could be the other way around: some choose to rebel against their poised and politically correct selves at work by becoming reckless online creatures. The anonymity the internet provides allows us to breathe life into our fantasy alter egos. The internet is public domain, it is globally accessible. Human resource professionals playing detectives trawl the internet to discover clues about your personality, especially when you are up for job interview or promotion and your resume is intriguing. If you cannot reconcile your physical and virtual personalities or if you insist on maintaining a potentially compromising online account, at least be discreet. Lock it with passwords, hide behind an alias and set other restrictions to protect your privacy and your reputation. Be careful of leaving virtual footprints that can lead to career suicide. In the interest of furthering your career, spew venom only when you’re sure you’re protected.

The image you project online leaves enduring imprints on the minds of your audience. This image precedes any actual physical impression. It becomes the basis of how people perceive you. In impressions management, it is boom or bust. Your e-persona can either strengthen or sabotage your professional life. Be it in the physical or virtual realm, always present yourself in the best light. Think well next time you log in.

Are you ready for teamwork and team play?

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(Published in the Job Market-Working People section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 9, 2008, Sunday)

By Roel Andag

Contributor

Assess your teamwork quotient

NEVER DISMISS ‘TEAM’ as just another four-letter word. Successful companies swear by the effectiveness of teams in propelling business. That is why when companies look for new employees and select candidates for promotion, one’s ability to work well in a team is given primacy as a desirable ability. Are you fit for teamwork and team play? There are only five questions to ask in assessing your teamwork quotient.

Do you have a specific competency? Do not join a team only because it is an elite assignment. Do so when you know you have something solid to pitch in. Your usefulness to the team depends on your unique contribution to the collective effort. Only when you possess at least one competency for which your skill is at resource person level that you can claim indispensability. You are deadweight to the team if you are mere copycat of another team member. Define your relevance – identify your expertise and how it complements the efforts of fellow members in fulfilling team objectives. If the team will function properly without you, then you are not needed.

Are you committed? Being in a team invariably results in extra work. It uproots you from your routine and forces you to squeeze in a special demand on top of regular demands. Team membership demands commitment – to the team, its goals, its members. Your time management skills, sense of humor and patience will play critical roles in ensuring your resilience in the face of detailed work, pressure and temperaments. Find motivation that will help you give sustained peak performance.

Do you relate well with people? A team is composed of several members working as one to fulfill a common purpose. Through his undesirable attitude, an anti-social member isolates himself from the rest of the team. One has to have the basic social skills that will enable him to interact with others in a manner that brings out their best productive selves. This is not to say that conflicts have to be avoided altogether. What are to be avoided are dysfunctional conflicts that tend to block team success. What is more challenging is being socials-savvy when you are in a virtual team where members do not have physical facetime as they engage one another only through emails, phone conversations and other technology-supported channels. In any case, effective communication skills and professional decorum are very important. Build unity in diversity. Bonding occurs when team members work and play well with one another.

Are you trustworthy? Teams are based on trust. Difficult to earn and easy to lose, trust is the delicate element that cements the relationship among team members. In a team environment, trust is not built by pledging loyalty to a faction. Trust is earned by performing responsibilities. Be accountable to the team. Trustworthiness is generated when proper communication channels are used. Being candid about feedback and accepting constructive criticism are preferred over gossiping and griping. Trustworthiness is increased with openness about asking for and giving help and with graciousness in sharing credit with others.

Are you a passionate advocate? It is a conscious management decision that individuals from different backgrounds and of varying competencies are gathered to form a team. The intention is to collect an array of ideas and perspectives. Each team member is duty-bound to offer ideas and solutions. Each is expected to passionately argue the case in favor of his ideas. You have to be mature and courageous enough to challenge others’ ideas and to dislodge groupthink that leads to complacency and arrogance. In the same manner, be aware that teamwork abhors bloated egos. Back down and compromise if your intentions do not help move the team forward.

Expertise, dynamism, result-orientedness and engagement are individual qualities that promote teamwork. Equally important, teamwork requires leadership traits. It doesn’t matter whether you are a team leader or member because team leadership is not a solo event. It is the sum total of group dynamics. With the proper motivation, the gains in joining a team include material and social rewards and career development. Now that you know your teamwork quotient, are you ready for teamwork and team play?