Never Climb Alone
By Todd Rhoad
The biggest key in climbing to greater career success is learning to let go!
Rudy was the most highly regarded engineer in the company, at least that’s what his peers thought. He was energetic, likable and took on any challenge put before him, which he usually handled in an effortless manner. He was a role model. Everyone wondered how one person could possibly be so talented in so many areas. Rudy could develop a complex process for growing a 30 Angstrom high-k dielectric film on a 45 nm transistor on one day and create a marketing plan for a newly developed product on the next. This was not the guy you wanted to compete with for a promotion. He just had too much going for him.
Sitting alone in the company cafeteria, David, a young budding process engineer, almost suffered major brain trauma from the salvos triggered from a conversation he overheard. Rudy the great was having lunch at a nearby table with his friend and colleague, Carlos. Now, Carlos was no slacker either. He was a talented Business Development Manager that commanded almost as much attention as Rudy. Quietly eating, David absorbed every word of their conversation.
Rudy was explaining to Carlos how he almost gave up on his career. He contributed his disappointment at the lack of raises, promotions and a general inability to move up the corporate ladder. Just two years ago, Rudy had completed his MBA at the state university. He mentioned that he quickly put his new found knowledge to work on several projects that saved the company considerable amounts of money. The first project was the creation of a cost model for new products. The company’s original model estimated the value of many processes due to a lack of knowledge on each process. This was where Rudy rode in and saved the day. In a somber tone, Rudy spoke of the many long days he also spent at work learning new tools and processes that were purchased to further the company’s capabilities and offerings to customers. While everyone cried tears of exhaustion, someone had to learn them, so Rudy volunteered.
Unable to withstand it any longer, David interrupted to question why during this time he never received a raise or promotion. Surely volunteering for additional projects, working longer hours, obtaining more education and helping teams outside of his area were sufficient justification for reward. Rudy just smiled and shook his head. This is where they were wrong. Seeing the confused look on David’s face, Carlos explained that knowledge, skills and effort are import to having a good career but in today’s market, these are only the basic characteristics a good climber needs. Rudy then told him that to become a better climber, you can’t be afraid to let go. Just then, Troy sat down at the table. He turned to David to say “The team will catch you. Then, you are free to take on any challenge you want. We’ll be there to help.”
Troy’s last words echoed through David’s mind as he learned from these three high achievers that the most success is not achieved alone. Rudy, Carlos and Troy were a team, each dedicated to the success of the other. All three of them had developed a career map that defined where they wanted to be and how they should get there. After sharing their maps, they refined them and defined activities that each would do. Every week they would meet to discuss their progress and modify their plans.
The impetus of the plan was to market each other’s abilities to management and the informal social networks that run throughout the company. As opportunities arose (or were created), they captured them for one of the members of the team. Then, they all worked together to make it successful. Week after week, they checked off task after task, goal after goal. Motivation was never an issue. If one got tired, the others pulled harder. If one was attacked, they all rushed to his defense. If one lacked the skill, they taught him.
The normal barriers to success that typically exist in organizations are inconsequential. This team-based approach was designed to reduce risk and increase the odds of success. As Rudy the great explained, they took fear and found knowledge. They took competition and found collaboration. They took confrontation and found support. Rudy, Carlos and Troy are living examples of how greater success can be achieved when it is shared.
David had learned what is known as the “Blitz Approach.” It is a simple method that consists of a plan, a team and a dedication to each other. Captured within the pages of the book, Blitz The Ladder, the Blitz Approach is drawn as an elegant solution to actively managing the perception of the team and building many successful and rewarding relationships within the organization.
