Using concepts from the Kramer (2003) article as a baseline, share your
insights on dilemmas that happen in society, work, and in your life.
We all have weaknesses, but it is better to acknowledge them and learn to use
them as a strength, or, at the very least, be keen to how they appear in
certain situations.
I am a very determined person and I am never satisfied in the moment; I am
always thinking about the next thing I am going to accomplish. I struggle with
appreciating what I have right now - people, things, experiences - everything
is a means to an end, but there really is no end. One way of helping me stay
grounded is that I constantly look back to where I have come from and realize
how thankful I am for the people and experiences that helped me get to where I
am.
When I read about our fictional executive Marjorie Peel, I was inspired by
her. Peel is everything I thought I would be as a teenager - the head of class
at a top university, the corporate up and comer who was quick-witted and
thorough in thought, the next in line for CEO – these are not easy
accomplishments (Kramer, 2003). However, I cannot imagine how could someone mess that up with
cheating the system and forgetting the skills that people lauded her for (being
quick with praise and slow to spite)? Perhaps, if I heard this story with
minimal detail, I’d presume Peel fell off because of something tragic, like
becoming an alcoholic or becoming addicted to prescription or recreational
drugs (a la The Wolf of Wall Street). I suppose I could also imagine (though it
is difficult) that Peel decided that the rat race is not for her and she
settled down to start a family. Who knew that power could make someone so
focused, so uncalculated and careless?
The story notes that Peel “the self-deprecating style that had been her
trademark seemed to fade, replaced by a sudden desire to be in the limelight.”
I believe I am the type of person that does seek recognition quite often – a flaw
that comes along with my woo (“winning other over” [Strengthsquest] personality)
– but I also enjoy giving credit, compliments and mentorship. The story
discusses how Peel was also this type of leader to her employees – “generous
with praise, quick to recognize others’ achievements” – yet as she ascended the
corporate ladder, she “became more demanding of her subordinates and devoted little
time to mentoring them.” She crossed the wrong people and did unethical things
with the finances she was entrusted with.
Here was where Pell fell. If you keep people happy and do the right thing, I
believe anyone can be successful, as long as you actually have the talent to
take advantage of the doors people open for you. Film producer Lynda Obst said
it best: “nerve, not talent, is the one necessary and sufficient trait for
success […] if you lean back on your ropes and […] ponder the risks, the moment
may be gone.”
Throughout my life, I have never felt that I needed to stop growing my
supervisees to devote more time to my own success. In fact, I see my employees
as the reason why I am successful. They do good work, and it makes me look
good, so I treat them well and I grow them to be creative, thoughtful leaders.
I can only hope that through my influence, they do the same to their employees,
because their employees are direct contacts to our clients. If our employees
are happy, then the service they provide will make our clients happy, which also
reflects positively on me.
One fatal flaw of mine is putting in the work with other things falling to the wayside. "I’ve been successful, but never satisfied" (Rookwood, 2012). At first I just thought I was losing connection because people did not want to see me "shine". I thought that if they could not deal with me putting 100 percent into work, they did not need to be around. I'd see doors open, opportunities to shine, and I run for them with a flashlight, and this has left my loved ones in a dark corner at times. What is success if there's no one to share it with? I have failed monstrously at the work/life-balance decision. However, I have tried to involved the people affected in keeping me on par. My godmother calls me every Sunday if we have not talked during the week, as to say, "I only expect one hour from you, missy, by Sunday!" My partner calls me frequently to reminds me what time I get off so we can have dinner together. There's been times that I slept at the office. I've left the office at midnight. These are the days my partner really grinds me over. He will come over to my office and and lay on the floor until I pack my things. Every once in a while he will nudge me to take a Wednesday off to explore the free parks in the area, or a Friday so we can escape town. We'll stay at a hotel and have an amazing dinner at a place we find on a Food Channel episode. It always delights me to take photos of plates and review places like I used to do before I came back to students affairs from journalism. There is something so freeing about these days that reminds me that life is not just the weekend. I have tried my best to realize that I do not work to live, but I work to have a life.
References
Kramer, Roderick M. (2003). Harvard Business Review.
The Harder They Fall. Accessed at https://hbr.org/2003/10/the-harder-they-fallRookwood, D. (2012). Put Your Career Second. GQ. Accessed at http://www.gq.com.au/lifestyle/editors+pick/put+your+career+second,18251
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