Intro

Life would have been so wonderful if we all had career paths as illustrious as some, where hard work is duly recognized and rewarded.

Larsen and Toubro\’s Group Executive Chairman AM Naik, who had joined way back in 1965 as a systems engineer and has \”made over 75 percent of what L&T is today, will be retiring on 30th of September.2017 after his 52 years of service at L&T. He will receive INR 32.21 crores for accumulated past service leaves[1] amongst other components of his INR 38.04 crores of retirement benefits remuneration

Stellar numbers, isn\’t it?

For many, the career path may not be as sorted and you need to regularly monitor   your CSQ- Career Stagnation Quotient. The mathematical measure will appropriately raise the red flags and warn you to take the right steps, well in advance, before you are officially declared \”Deadwood\” by your organization

What are the early indicators

There was a group of tourists visiting a small village in Europe.  They walked by an old man sitting on a wooden fence.  One of the tourists asked, “Were there any great people born in this village?” The old man replied, “Nope.  Just babies!”

This could represent a stage in your career where disillusionment has taken centre stage. Each appraisal cycle leaves you high and dry and all you get is false assurances from seniors. There is nothing new that work front brings in terms of personal development and all you go there is for a paycheck.

You are traveling to work the same way every day, working in the same environment, with the same people, doing the same thing. It\’s predictable, stable and comfortable.

Career Stagnation Quotient

Mathematically you could compute your Career Stagnation Quotient (CSQ)

Thus, your CSQ could vary from 25 in your first year in the current job (5*5/1).

Over the next 10 years in the same company, it can move to decimal places once growth/learning has plateaued. You could have CSQ score of 0.1 (L=1, G=1, Y=10)

 

Are you green and growing or ripe and rotting?

The answers to most of these questions represents a negative

• Does my effort make a difference to stakeholders?
• Am I learning something new (being challenged, grown, developed)
• Do I enjoy what I do?

The question you need to ask yourself is

\”Are you green and growing or ripe and rotting?\” Ray Kroc

Nothing could drive home the point more effectively.

So, how to reignite your career?

As an employee you are going to need to be vigilant about monitoring career stagnation. This needs a growth mindset where professional development is valued and prioritized over mere stability and a paycheck.

First, pay attention to the emotional impact of the disappointment. Do not try to deny, rationalize or minimize it. Let it play out without either suppressing it or acting on impulses to express your feelings in inappropriate settings. You may feel numb at first (“this isn’t happening or “it doesn’t matter”) or experience intense feelings of anger, hurt, or self-criticism. This is all to be expected.

Now you must strategies as to how you will challenge ‘status quo’. The answers could be first within and if not, then outside the organization.

If you are feeling stymied, should you assume your career is doomed unless you move to another organization? Not necessarily. Work on the two fulcrums of success: superior work and solid relationships. Maybe you can build a better relationship with your boss. Maybe you gain visibility through task forces so as to build bridges outside so that you can be pulled from your department than push your way out of it.

Overcoming career stagnation can be as theatrical as jumping horses or as simple as breaking a repetitive thought pattern. Either way, it requires self-evaluation, planning, and choice.

According to the famous Broadway character Auntie Mame, \”Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.\” If her message hits painfully close to home, it\’s not too late to take your seat at the table.

http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/earnings-business/lt-chairman-am-naiks-leave-encashment-stands-at-rs-32-21-crore-2366405.html