Of what you can do and ought.
The flaw which may escape the eye
And temporarily get by,
Shall weaken under the strain
And wreck the ship or car or train.
For this is true of men and stuff—
Only the best is "good enough."
- Edgar Guest
Sara is a mid-career leader. Her professional life started strong, but she has recently plateaued into a “good enough” job. She selected her current employer due to a very attractive pay & benefits package. Over time she mastered each of her roles and presently spends most of her time on ordinary work – certainly not performing at her personal best.
Outside of work, Sara is more energized and creative as she supports her family and community. As she walks into the office each morning, or logs on at home, she seems to turn off her personal best and turn on good enough.
Though she is proud of her life, Sara masks her professional disappointment well, as a steady performer who hides her envy when peers are promoted. Her fear is job burnout and it appears to be underway. She says “I guess I can’t have it all."
Does Sara’s story hit close to home?
A famous study in Africa measured the behavior of young elephants attached to a large pole by a short rope. As the elephants got older they believed the short rope could still restrain them so they never tried to break free. They were conditioned to being STUCK and resigned to a limited future.
Too many people in organizations behave the same way, failing to recognize their short rope and settling into a stage of underemployment. This settling process is often associated with being the victim of downsizing, office politics, etc. The reality is this frequently occurs as a result of personal choices - not what other individuals or the organization did to them.
Three keys to moving from a Good Enough to Great Career:
Look Forward
We can learn from our previous choices and leverage this experience to change our behavior, generally requiring the help of others. What about regrets? I believe we all have professional regrets, despite many people denying this reality, and poor choices early in your career are lessons, not terminal setbacks. Understand your regrets, learn from your mistakes, and pour energy into your future.
Engage – Physically, Intellectually, and Emotionally
If someone were asked to describe what you are passionate about, would they know? What would they say? Your words and - even more importantly - your actions speak volumes about who you really are. Project energy for the success of the organization and others, without expecting some reward in return, and your career satisfaction will improve.
Growth
Successful leaders grow older – unsuccessful leaders get older. Growth means getting out of the box you have placed yourself in through self-doubt or deception and by not recognizing your blind spots. You can also be placed in a box by others, a result of assumptions they make that may not be true. Fuel your growth by projecting confidence, claiming your blind spots, and improving your relationship efforts.
Is your rope still attached to the pole even though you are capable of moving forward? To move from good enough to something greater requires a new commitment. Look forward, be fully engaged, and move from settled to growth. Only your best will do.
