The Organization Man, “The Sequel”
William H. Whyte Jr.’s The Organization Man was a seminal work of the 1950’s .The book detailed what Mr. Whyte believed was the sacrifice of a generation in exchange for finding and keeping jobs that promised security. That generation came of age in the “Great Depression.”
Are we on track for The Organization Man, “The Sequel?” In their Global Workforce Study released today Towers Watson, a human capital firm, showed a workforce weary of the fallout from the recession. And, perhaps not surprisingly, there is a renewed interest in job security. When respondents were asked about the factors most important in a preferred work situation, 86% chose a secure and stable position. Fewer, 74%, chose substantially higher levels of compensation.
Has the pendulum swung away from the idea Daniel H. Pink, author of the recently released Drive, first popularized in Free Agent Nation? Said Laura Sejen, a leader of the company’s Talent and Rewards business, “Where once employers fretted over a ‘war for talent,’ now they must plan for a workforce that appears ready to settle in for years—perhaps even decades.”,
What will this mean for those joining the workforce in coming years, and folks who are delaying retirement? Share your thoughts!
Tags: Daniel H. Pink, employee attitudes, free agent nation, job security, organization man, recession, war for talent, William H. Whyte Jr., workplace trends
Working and Playing To Your Strengths
In December Right Management (a Manpower, Inc. subsidiary that handles outplacement) asked 900 workers, “Do you plan to pursue new job opportunities as the economy improves in 2010? More than half the workforce expected to have a foot out the door in the New Year. Fully 60% replied “yes, I intend to leave.” And nearly another quarter, 21% said “maybe, so I’m networking.” Which is better, leaving or staying? And if you do leave, will a new position play to your strength?
Marcus Buckingham has had a satisfying career advising managers and their employees about how to tap into their strengths. First Break All the Rules (1999), Now Discover Your Strengths ( 2001), One Thing You Need to Know (2005) and Go Put Your Strengths to Work (2007) encouraged individuals to build on strengths rather than work to improve weaknesses. This philosophy has earned him a well recognized place among management gurus. I first interviewed him a decade ago for a story about thoughtfulness in the workplace.
Now, though, he’s broadened his approach with the publication of Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently (Thomas Nelson 2008). Before you groan, as I did, about yet another book about women, this one is different. For openers, it shocks by describing that by all subjective measures of well being, women are less happy than men. And for women, who may be juggling a home, family, a job, and perhaps aging parents, happiness and fulfillment may seem like distant goals.
To minimize a tendency toward unhappiness Mr. Buckingham says we need to have a clear idea of what choices strengthen us and give short shrift to confusing and contradictory messages. And he offers a check list.
…How often do you feel an emotional high in your life?
…How often do you find yourself positively anticipating your day?
…How often do you become so involved in what you are doing that you lose track of time?
….How often do you feel invigorated at the end of a long, busy day?
…How often do you get to do the things you really like to do?
It’s important, he says, to recognize that most responsibilities involve many different types of activities and it sometimes takes a conscious, selfishness to choose the ones that nourish you. Where have we heard that before? And how can we better do that?
It turns out that some of our unhappiness may be because we haven’t thought seriously about what invigorates us and we haven’t taken a stand for ourselves without bragging.
The book directs you to take the Strong Life Test. Some might consider it a gimmick, but it was surprisingly accurate, at least for this reporter. You only need to take ti once. I tried twice and got a different answer both times. “It’s best read the first time,” said Mr. Buckingham because on subsequent testing you’ve prepared and have time to weigh considerations.
And he says we get stronger as we get older because aging brings an acceptance of what sustains us. His name for this phenomenon is, “The Popeye Syndrome” because, he says, like Popeye, those who are reaching maturity, regardless of age acknowledge, “I am what I am.”
Mr. Buckingham offers tips to start off in the direction of what he calls a strong life…
Consider outsourcing activities that you find frustrating.
Better yet, look at the activity through the eyes of a strength. An example, at social gatherings or parties, try turning the festivity into a series of long individual conversations rather than brief cocktail party talk in a large group.
It’s more important to listen to your own voice, than social norms.
Tags: management, mentoring, satisfying work
Civic Ventures, Encore Careers and the Purpose Prize
Marc Freedman heads a unique organization in San Francisco called Civic Ventures. It’s a think tank that promotes careers that combine continued income, greater meaning and social impact. And in his view, baby boomers will revolutionize retirement and transform the country. His book Encore: Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life (Public Affairs 2007), which describes the possibilities, has taken on new relevance since its publication.
Instead of a traditional retirement of leisure, Mr. Freedman is advocating baby boomers undertake a significant second career of in an area of social importance. And he makes a compelling case. In Encore he offers specific illustrations of individuals who heeded that call, and moved onto areas what they consider “greater purpose.” One example is Jacqueline Khan who went from truant officer to critical care nurse. Another is Robert Chambers who went from owning a car dealership to becoming a social entrepreneur.
Paradoxically, the stifled economy may have given a lift to Mr. Freedman’s thesis. He says the downturn has provided a climate for individuals to reassess their values and priorities. “There’s a reevaluation of what constitutes success,” he said, pointing to a disillusionment many are feeling about corporate America.
Still, despite considerable research that shows baby boomers are seeking a combination of fulfillment and want to remain engaged Freedman says that there are challenges to embracing what he calls purposeful work. Why? “You are often pretty much on your own in initiating this kind of career shift,” he says. To help with the transition, Civic Ventures, is again funding a $100,000 Purpose Prize for those over sixty in second careers who are inventing new ways of solving social problems. The deadline for the application is March 5, 2010. Self nominations are allowed.
For those just beginning to contemplate “an encore” Mr. Freedman suggests trying to think about a career trajectory longer than one you might have previously anticipated. “Reset the time horizon,” he said, and think about your life as a body of work.
Career Reinvention in the New Year
January is a time to feel optimistic. Any New Year’s resolutions are probably still being kept. For some, they involve finding a new career. With the economy still shedding jobs, a career hunt may be a more formidable undertaking than in the past.
Alexandra Levit who previously wrote How’d You Score that Gig? and They Don’t Teach Corporate in College, is back with a lively and insightful new book entitled New Job, New You. (Ballantine Books) She has put together a toolkit that includes everything a job seeker needs for career reinvention culled from the experiences of people who have made a transition some more than once.
Ms. Levit assembled a winning and diverse group of career changers, all younger than 40. And one almost wishes we could see them in five or ten years after they’ve gained more seasoning in the aftermath of the economic crisis.
She sets the tone early in the book with a reinvention assessment, which when taken honestly, can separate those who are merely musing from those who are ready to reivent.
We caught up with Ms. Levit recently to talk about managing some of the challenges of career reinvention.
Here are several of her tips, with suggestions for first job seekers and baby boomers.
Define your motivation in career switching. A twenty-five item questionnaire in New Job, New You gives a reader insight into whether a career reinvention is a necessity or a passing whim. Sample question—True or False, You feel you are a different person now than when you first started your career.
Remember everything you do is a measured risk. Just because the economy is in trouble is no reason not to pursue your dream job. You only need one small thing at a time to move forward. Sign up for the week-end workshop or take that on-line webinar.
Choose a first job by the knowledge you’ll gain. When weighing offers chose the job offer with as many transferable skills as possible. These might include project management, sales, marketing, finance and client relations.
The first job is not the be all and end all. Trust your instincts, when making a job choice, especially a first job choice, but also dial back the pressure. Again ask, will the job allow me to have transferable skills? You’ll be able to walk out of that job with a resume to make you proud.
If you are considering a graduate degree ask if the lifestyle applicable and good for you. Sure parents and peers may be thinking that grad school is a good way to sit out the recession, but unless you have a couple of years experience under your belt and an affinity for the field, it might be a waste of time and money.
If you are a baby boomer seeking reinvention, realize you have an advantage. Yes, you may encounter age discrimination, so consider deleting dates from your resume, but you know the business world and hopefully have learned something about packaging yourself. You have more to draw on than someone with just a few years of experience behind them. If you want to do something you feel passionate about, now’s your chance.
Tags: baby boomers, career transitions, Careers, job seekers
