From danperry via Flickr

Wow, nearly a year without posting. That can only mean some sense of satisfaction with work (true), being too busy and lacking time (also true) or feeling alright with the world (somewhat true).

I had always meant to use this as a way of venting – about how un-real the corporate world is and how we as people just roll with it, without really thinking much about what it all means. I wrote when work, the things I had to do and the people I had to deal with, was just washing over me and building that foreboding wave of dislike.

So, I am less angry about my position in the corporate world. I don’t have that burning ember of frustration saying, “To hell with it all.” In a way, this window of quiet is good. I am focussed on productivity, less on being passive aggressive. On the flipside, is it being too accepting? Too comfortable? Am I getting fat and comfortable?

Source: Flickr via Margolove

Earlier this year I had to do what is probably the toughest thing in my work life. I had to manage one of my directs out of his job because he just couldn’t do it.

So, it goes like this. Last year I had to hire someone for a managerial role running an ongoing research program. As chance would have it, a guy from another department had been made redundant but had a strong analytical background. We (my manager, his boss and me) thought we could take a chance on him – after all, analytical skills should carry across functions whether you’re counting widgets or understanding consumer sentiment, right?

Well, no.

While his differing perspective was refreshing at first, it didn’t take long to realize that he didn’t quite understand the fundamentals of his job. He was used to the black and white nature of measuring things like widgets and he failed to transfer this to measuring how a consumer feels.

The worst part was when he was scheduled to present to one of our regional offices. Charged with the responsibility of influencing their upcoming commercial plan, we thought it best to practice his presentation in front of us. After all, we would be tougher judges than the regional office would. That was when it hit. He was a dithering mess. He was unable to convey the basics of his job and lacked any sophistication or understanding in his delivery. After a couple of hours of practice, my boss decided that I was to go.

Soon after, he was tasked with compiling a few reports for publication to the broader Marketing team. Again, he failed. His draft was unintelligible, lacking any semblance of grammatical structure. This was the time when I had to start managing his performance. Everything had to be documented: the work I asked of him; the drafts he compiled; our exchange on his progress. In the end, he really wasn’t up to it. We eventually came to an agreement for him to leave and for us to promote his direct.

This was difficult because he had tried so hard and yet was never, ever going to succeed in this role. I saw his efforts but could never reward him for it. In the end, the Marketing Director said that it was my job to have the right people to deliver my part. If he wasn’t going to be a contributor, I would be worse for it. My job was to do my job – if my team drags me down, change the team.

This still bothers me today. I know he’s right but somehow it hurts when you make a decision about someone’s career.

Source: Flickr.com via MaureenShaugnessy

During a working career of a little more than ten years, I’ve only recently come to wonder why it is that I do what I do. For the most part, I’ve been driven by knowledge – to learn more, to understand, to analyse. I’ve never been one to push my case, to become higher ranked, to be CEO. It has always been about analysis.

Today, as another project comes my team’s way, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m actually good at my job. Yes, I can dissect an issue. I can identify why things are the way they are. It’s just that in the business world, that is just a skill, a function. In the end, what changes am I leaving behind? What will I be remembered for?

The next year may be telling. I’m not comfortable. I don’t feel like I’ve got the best out of myself. I need to feel like I’ve done something and all I can think of are the words that my manager and the leadership team say amongst each other about my performance and how I could have been something.

It will be a telling year.

Source: Flickr.com John McNab

I work in a Marketing department. More specifically, its research arm. Recently, I’ve been involved in a working team formed to address a brand’s poor performance. This cross-functional team is headed up by a salesman.

We recently had a workshop to work out what the brand would deliver to consumers, retailers and the Board. We broke up into smaller groups and I slipped into the consumer pool to work through the problem.

At the end, we had to present our preliminary recommendations. My group focused largely on positioning -  those traits that our brand represented that differentiated it from all others. We spoke about our hook and how it would own a specific mood, providing a reason for our target consumer to pick us up. In the end, the sales people had their say:

• We shouldn’t limit ourselves to a specific mood
• We should be available to any consumer who’s interested
• We should equip our sales team with stories to sell, sell, sell

That was when I realized that we had committed a cardinal sin of Marketing. We didn’t think of our audience and how their specific mindset affects their behavior. These were sales people. They are driven by numbers; big numbers. They enjoy the thrill of selling to anyone.

As Marketers, we needed to clearly explain that there are some sales that we don’t really want. To build the brand, we need to appeal to a certain set of retailers or customers. They are our advocates and will consume, spruik and evangelize about our brand more than others. If they see someone they sense who shouldn’t be part of our brand, then they are likely to reject us. We would be left with second or third or fourth preference customers… and inevitably fewer sales.

In the end, we really needed to be clear about positioning and that every sale isn’t the same.

My wife and I were talking the other day about what we’d do after all the work was done and the tot was in college learning his thing. What would we do when we had some real choices? My wife mentioned her PhD in history and I suggested that we should throw ourselves into charity work – putting in as much into a cause we believe in as we did to the corporations on our resumes.

I then figured that why should we defer such choices? Should we not look to do what we really want to now rather than later? Sometimes it’s just for the love of something and not necessarily for the money or prestige.

Last week I was at a work conference and there our new MD spoke about what he expected from his newly adopted team. He talked about wanting to win but didn’t do it like he wanted to beat the other guy. He talked about his desire to hit numbers but said it like it was something he does everyday. He asked us to tell him what we thought but asked us to write it on a postcard instead of the oft-ignored email.

I later found out that he was at the bar each of the three nights we were there getting to know members of the team. He finished at 2am each time and doubled-up the next day to start at 8:30. At the final dinner, he continued on his simple way to tell us what he stood for, simply and honestly.

He certainly has earned some respect this week and I can only hope not to let him down.

I was just taking stock the other day about how I spend the twenty-four hours in any given day. Much like any corporate employee, I have a combo phone/email device. I also have an iPhone for personal use. So, anyone can more or less contact me at any time. Like most connected citizens, I will probably respond to any ping, SMS, email or tweet as they come, whenever they come.

In the mornings, before leaving home, I check my mail (iPhone). During the walk to the station, iPod playing, I scour through the work device. On the train, it’s Twitter and blogging. In between meetings and, well, work, I flit between personal mail and Twitter (again) then topping off the commute home with more personal mail.

At home, after the family goes to bed, I cycle through blogs, email, Twitter and Facebook. It’s arduous and tiring to keep up with everything.

In such a hyper-connected society, am I missing out on real life and who I really am? Can this dedication to an online identity mean the detriment of my physical self?

With the noted staff reductions still to come, it’s evident that there are people that have been given some bad news. While there have been tears, there are others who have held their dignity and ploughed on with their work.

Those in the latter category seem to be in a good place emotionally; they’ve got jobs or other plans. I feel sorry for the ones who have struggled with the news. In particular, I know someone who is being targeted, with the sole intention of being pushed out of the business. This person has been pressured to work long hours and with no possible hope for success. During our hallway discussions, there is enormous pressure being mounted and the only dignified option is to leave.

The worst thing is that I’ve heard from other sources that the manager had been bragging about performance managing the employee out of the business. This is questionable ethics in times of great uncertainty and difficulty. One can only hope that actions like this have a sense of kismet about it.

So, it was announced a couple of days ago that I’ve held on to my job. In fact, not only have I held on to my job but I’ve been promoted. Yet, I have the same pay and greater responsibility. I guess it’s better than the outside option.

It does mean that I need to learn more about our consumer tracking methodologies and that is scaring me. I now have the freedom to set my own path and without the handrails of a more hands-on manager, there is an element of fear there.

Onward into the great recession!

It’s not always about ability but having the right connections and walking onto the stage on time.
I think that my current position owes a lot to timing. A year ago, I shared that long road trip with the former head of the area. That meant a lead position to getting my old job. Now, there were some departures that opened up a path to a more senior position. I was in the department, able to express my preferences. So, I’m here. It’s a good role and one that sets me up for better things later on.
As with most things, timing enhances ability and inter-personal know-how.