Transitioning to 2013; a buyer’s guide

The end of 2012 approaches, and we transition to the next year very soon. At the stroke of midnight the clock ticks, and we “start” 2013. An easy transition, no?

There are personal transitions of business which necessitate more thought-and where [I think] it gets interesting. Transitions of:

[list]

  • New job in the same company
  • New job in a new company
  • Same job, new boss
  • Same company, new location
  • Downsizing-but staying with the same company
  • Downsizing–but no one’s talking..
  • Rapid growth–but no one’s talking
  • Reorganising–which could mean anything..
  • Acquisition of your company (or vice versa)

[/list]

You can add your variations to the theme, but the point is simply that work is never static, never. It is always in motion, and you have to understand how to move, how to transition, and do so predictively, not reactively. That is what separates someone who might be labeled “savvy” from someone viewed as “jittery.”

Life offers no guarantees, so why would anyone think a company can guarantee security? Because it is easier to be looked after (and many assume that through hard work the company will take care of you. It Ain’t Necessarily So..) Hard work is a contributing-but insufficient-component for peace of mind.

Andy Grove of Intel wrote a book years ago entitled “Only The Paranoid Survive.” He was writing more about the cutthroat Silicon Valley innovators and how to maintain an edge. But part of business savvy is a healthy dollop of paranoia, just enough to keep one from complacency.

For those transitioning next year–and that’s nearly all of us–think about your next career step as well as the step after. Not a New Year’s resolution, but rather how to be more gimlet-eyed about what and who surrounds you.

Can you make things work to your advantage? If not, how do you fix it, and with whom? A quick exit, a slow one, or not at all? Who are you turning to for counsel, who are your griping to? Who do you need to get in front of, inside and outside the company–and what are you doing about it?

What do people say about you? How are you viewed? Do you care?

[framed_box]
[one_half]Viewed more favourably as:

Collaborative
Caring
Ethical
Communicatively clear
Empowering
Humourous
Even-keeled
Humble
Relaxed
Mature (not a factor of age..)
Empathetic
Stamina
A listener
Challenges with grace[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Viewed less favourably as:

Argumentative
Brilliant but…
Short-fused
Scattered and vague
Low energy
An ‘operator’
Insincere
Too nice, a softie
Talk but no follow through
AWOL most of the time
Leading with ego
Caustic, mocking or sarcastic
Self centred
Controlling
[/one_half_last]
[/framed_box]

The above is not a laundry list of good or bad, but rather a short fillip to think about how you may be viewed professionally, for better or not. Accentuate the positive and mitigate the negative.

None of us are angels; we’re human. But we are that much more human when we’re with others in community-of work, of home, physical or virtual. When we think of next steps professionally, we need varied communities to help us, to provide thought, feedback and guidance. Not feel-good cliches, but measured counsel. Do not think you can transition alone, and be brave enough to ask for some helping hands. And make 2013 a good and manageable year–that’s an achievable goal.