The “BRIGHT” Corporate back-bencher

Since our childhood the word back bencher has always brought fear in our minds, especially in the middle section of the society where there was struggle and hardships in daily life and the parents toiled hard with just one simple goal – excellence of their ward in the class. There was hope that the children see a brighter future and lead a better lifestyle.

 As one steps into the corporate world with freshness, enthusiasm and aspiration in the first few years, the exponential learning keeps the young jobber going. Soon as one witnesses the differential speed of growth in corporate amongst peer and colleagues, starts the phenomenon of restlessness, anxiety. The yard stick now has shifted from what was then “Marks” in a class to “Levels and Bands” in the office. Here is when the chase behind such levels and bands starts.

 Welcome to the new world of Corporate Report Card.

 Unlike in a school, where the entire class (barring few students) keeps moving up each year, the corporate world is not the same for sure. In reality it's a Pyramid. This reality of the pyramid suddenly tends to distract these bright brains through usual happenings in an office like “Gossips”, “Rumors”, and words like “ Fast track”, “Aspirational role” start haunting the mind.

 Suddenly the decade old corporate manager shining bright is in cross roads of managing work, switching jobs, switching roles, joining start-ups...gradually metamorphosing into an impatient man. 

 This yard stick of level and band may become a silent killer for many as suddenly quantity overtakes quality, short term overtakes long term and the professional contribution progressively seems less differentiated to others (not necessarily to himself).

 Who is this note for ?

 This note is for those bright talents young or old who feel stuck in career, are grappling with the rat race and are sensing a slowing down in career. The attempt here is to show a new dimension of thinking to REDEFINE the yardstick of one’s success, to achieve a sense of overall fulfilment in one’s life. I used the word “life” here and not ”career” as the latter can never be greater than the former. The pandemic definitely has taught us a bit of it.

 The phenomenon of corporate growth?

 Growth happens when the three co-ordinates meet i.e. Right opportunity, Right time, Right talent. So, sooner one should understand that it is a miracle if all 3 co-ordinates meet each and every time one ones to grow in career. Those who are under huge peer pressure or self imposed pressure start making efforts to match all the 3 artificially by switching jobs, changing industry instead of moving closer to the co-ordinates through skill development, focusing on quality of work, gaining differentiated experience and demonstrating patience.

 Growth redefined : Few Steps that could possibly reboot career growth when you feel stuck.

A Bright guy can be a back-bencher today, a front runner tomorrow

1. Diversify even if it means lateral shifts : The report card mentality stops us from taking lateral roles in fear of slowing down growth and a fear of failure thereby further delaying success.
2. Step down roles : Differentiate enough even if it means a step down role to collect experience and enables one differentiate from others significantly
3.  Intrapreneurship : Pick up challenging roles or the so called not so HOT roles, as you can turn them into aspirational roles. One gets noticed
4.  Shed the ego, as only then you may add to your skills a little late but you don’t lose the chance to learn.
5.  Experience matters : When you sit with younger people who are doing similar jobs prove that experience brings value and matter to the table.
6.  Earn respect : That middle level technical genius isn’t too senior in rank but is highly respected by all for his problem solving skills which is unmatched for the past 20 years. 
7.  It’s the organization first and then me : Tough one, but yes this brings the selfless out in you and you don’t beg for roles – Roles come to you
8.  Leave a legacy in every job : Levels come and go, one retires but legacy remains. Pick up big tasks that impact the organization in the long term.

When you do all of this what you gain is experience, courage, diversity, maturity and above all respect and stature which catapults you to the final success and yes roles come to you.

 Remember, the bright brain is usually also super ambitious but if he is fearless to sit in the back bench, he has the power to rotate the order in the class. He is not the usual back bencher, he is bright! 

And in the end, lets draw some analogy. If you look at lead Bollywood movie actors of the past who were scared to step down to small screen are today setting examples on small screen through Reality shows, KBCs. Traditional commercial actors are ready to pick up content driven movies even though they don't promise 100+ clubs. Lead actors of the past have picked up side roles to revive careers. So, they have diversified, at times stepped down, taken versatile roles and sustained careers. Why would it not hold true elsewhere ?