Find the Company That Really and Truly Does Not Want a Robot

Kathy Sierra wrote a wonderful, depressing post called "Knocking the Exuberance out of Employees" on Creating Passionate Users.

If you’re interested in finding career happiness, taking an honest look at how exhuberance is valued in your industry, organization, and team makes a whole lot of sense

One great point Kathy makes is that there is often a massive contradiction between who companies say they want and value as employees (bold and independent thinkers who challenge the status quo, who find new ways of doing things and who embody innovation) and who middle managers reward and attract as employees ("yes" men and women, followers, "team players", unquestioning, tireless toilers).

Chances are that as a reader of this blog, you are not saying, “Sign me up for the mediocre opportunity where I don’t have to make a difference, express an opinion or feel challenged. Point me the way to selfless obedience.”

If you’re in job search mode, to find the “exuberance quotient” of a given opportunity, ask the people you network with in the organizations you target and ask your job interviewers questions that will get them to explain how qualities such as independent thinking, creativity and boldness are rewarded.

If at all possible, get a read on your prospective future manager. That person will influence your work experience more than any other factor. Does she hire boldly? Does he talk about how his staff is so great he’s practically out of a job?

Also realize that your choice of industry is going to affect how easy it is to find a work environment that truly values exuberance. Think high-tech start up vs. insurance.

If your current manager demands that her employees be as robotic as possible, well, there’s no changing her. You have to decide how big a deal that is to you, and how untenable it makes your situation. That’s a whole different post.

Heather Mundell
Dream Big Coaching Services
www.dreambigcoaching.com
heather@dreambigcoaching.com

 

Technorati Tags: kathy sierra, work environment, career happiness

Comments

[Alexandra Levit]

This is such a great post. In my mid-20s, I found myself in a job, in a company, where exuberance wasn't rewarded but punished. You were expected to toe the line, keep your head down, and do your job, and that just wasn't the way I operated. On the contrary, I thrived on innovation, and on challenging the status quo to put out a better product, an approach that was not particularly appreciated in that environment. Had I taken the time to investigate the culture before taking the job, I might have realized that I was better suited for another position. I might do a follow up post on this at Water Cooler Wisdom and link over to you. Thanks for the food for thought.

[Heather Mundell]

Hi Alexandra,

When I was in my mid-20's, just finding some kind of reasonable job that was better than the last one was a coup. One company I worked for was waaaay dysfunctional on multiple levels, and being there (and getting out of there) were huge learning experiences for me. I find myself glad now to know firsthand what I never want to go back to. Subsequent gigs were better yet still not quite right.

And I can't help but wonder whether if I had found a corporate environment that I really clicked with before I had kids - would I still be there today?