Careers finished by a few sentences
I had dinner recently with the SVP of Asia for a US-based company. During the course of the evening, he talked about many things, and I’m sure didn’t realise what he was saying was the essence of the politics of business. He referred to one person that had been at the company many years, recently got a senior promotion, and, in the SVP’s words, “doesn’t get it”, and “don’t think he’ll make it, he doesn’t have the right sense of urgency”. Oh, that guy has been with the company over 15 years.
Another one is a new hire, reporting directly into the SVP. He turned to me and said, “Good guy, but I watched him in some meetings, and I’m not sure he’s a quick enough study. Might not have been a good hire, but we’ll see.”
And another one, ethnic Chinese, very good English, but the SVP wants the level of English fluent, especially when giving PowerPoints and presentations, no mistakes, no typos. “He’s a smart guy, but if he doesn’t double-check his spelling, what does that tell me about how careful he is in the business?”
It doesn’t mean he’s going to fire any of them, but it does mean that he’s watching, and likely that none of them know what is being said about them—by him, or anyone else in the company. The first person is too busy trying to manage his business day-to-day, the second one has just started, and determining how to fit in and see who is who, and the third probably thinks his English is great the way it is (which is better than most).
But their careers can be derailed, in large because they’re not spending enough time building their relationships and reputations, but instead working harder to show the boss how good a job they can do. And the boss is not watching them operationally, but strategically, and how well they click with the clients.
Moral of the story: focus on what’s going on around you, not just the job. Anyone high up in the ranks can tell you that, and if that’s where you want to go, start opening your eyes and ears. You’d be amazed what you hear-and see..
