There’s nothing like an economic downturn to send levels of career-related stress through the ceiling. Because part of my job entails reviewing much of the “stuff” that gets published about careers, it dawned on me how stressful most of the advice becomes during difficult times, as well. So, as if there’s already not enough stress out there, the “how to” columns are filled with largely well-meaning – and largely lousy – advice.
Fundamental differences exist between what hourly and middle-level managers require and what executives and professionals require when career worries top the charts. Since the company I own is designed expressly to guide organizations and the executives and professionals who lead them, I was struck by the level of dissatisfaction that exists among executives and professionals, even as jobs are slashed by the thousands every week. It seems working inauthentically transcends fear of job loss. Or, well, almost. It’s personal discipline and focus on authentic goals that appear to be missing.
Consider these comments:
Nancyn“I’m working harder and harder, but I feel like I create nothing that makes a difference. I wish I could change the direction of my life. But with the economy in such bad shape, I’d too scared to rock the boat. I guess I have to hang on to my current job, even though I know it is not an authentic role for me.”
Tomn“I go to meeting after meeting, show my slides, and get back on an airplane. It’s all so meaningless!” “It’s like being on a boatnwith no rudder. Where am I going?” n nThese are courtesy of intelligent, over-achiever leaders who make lots of money. Why the dissatisfaction? Well, try this. As a pilot, I find techniques learned in flight training apply beautifully to helping leaders manage complex work/life equations. So, throwing a touch of pilot magic into the pot, let’s see what happens when we peal the proverbial onion back and expose the authentic man or woman: n n1. The leader does not have a work/life plan (Aviation Translation: She’s flying visually in bad weather and risking getting lost in or above the clouds)n n2. The leader has a plan, but it is not authentic… it is based upon objectives others have defined for him (Aviation Translation: He’s flying missions over targets he’s not sure he wants to hit; he risks getting shot down or causing damage he does not wish to cause)n n3. The leader is job-jumping: chasing paychecks to support lifestyles based on myths that (A) “jobs” last in today’s disloyal workplaces and (B) she can pursue the things that really count in the little free time she has left after working 15 hour days (Aviation Translation: navigating blind, she fails to make course corrections; errors create increasingly large – and costly – “fixes”) n nWant to get your work/life direction on course, even during times when everyone is telling you, you should just appreciate what you have and pipe down? Try following these rules: n nRULE ONE nA safe, competent pilot never leaves the ground without a flight plan. He checks the weather, route of flight, fuel required and a multitude of factors that mean the difference between a safe, routine flight… or disaster. Why would we treat our entire work/life journeys differently?
True, we have financial plans that calculate how long it will take for a portfolio to support what we think is “retirement,” and that is a good step (even as the stock market continues its roller coaster escapades). But it is meaningless if we do not know how the dollars will get into the portfolio, or, even worse, if we know the dollars will get into the portfolio by sacrificing our souls in work that holds little or no meaning.
Pilot solution: Have A Plan. n nRULE TWO nIt’s a waste of time, fuel and money flying to destinations that do not complete the mission; whether it’s for training, pure pleasure, pure business or – in a military application – combat. That’s why it is not good enough to simply have a work/life plan that is not authentic. Why waste precious time, money and emotional energy chasing things that do not place us on course to land at Big Picture Field?
Pilot Solution: Make sure your flight plan takes you to the right airport or target… every time. n nRULE THREE nIt’s a fact that, when flying an airplane from one point to another, errors in navigation that are relatively small early in the flight become larger and harder to correct if left unchecked. The manner in which we navigate our careers and work/lives is very similar: even a work/life plan that begins with authentic ingredients isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on when we miss check points and fail to make course corrections frequently. n nPilot Solution: Establish work/life “check points” as part of your plan, and if you miss one, make the correction immediately. n nSound too simple? Consider this: when a pilot gets into the cockpit, he takes his life and the lives of those flying with him into his hands, just like that magnificent US Air skipper who courageously ditched his powerless Airbus into the frigid Hudson River last January. Like all good pilots, he did everything humanly possible to conduct a safe flight.
When you wake up tomorrow morning, you have the rest of your life in your hands, and what you do with it will impact not only you but the lives of others close to you. Are you ready to launch, or do you think a little flight planning is in order?