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This week I will be having my mid-year review and development discussion with my boss. What do I want to do or be next? It’s hard to have a developmental discussion with someone who is content. My ambitions arise out of some kind of discontent. When I get bored, or stop learning, or have a bad boss, that’s when I start to aspire for something new. When I feel challenged with meaningful work and know I’m making a contribution it’s pretty hard to think of something else I’d rather be doing. I have been really fortunate my whole career to have liked my jobs. Somehow I landed in a career that “fit”; my work is a natural expression of my talents, personality and interests. How lucky am I!
But still, I have to offer up some ideas for my own development and career growth this week. I know this about myself…I gravitate to white space – things that are leading edge, things that aren’t even jobs at my company yet, but I think should be. That leaves my bosses unsure what to do with me.
The white space I see currently is in human rights. I don’t believe my company is doing all they can to identify human rights risks across the business or to manage them. I think we need a human rights “Czar” because our current view of human rights is too narrow. I’ve been shopping this idea around for a while but have yet to convince the right people it’s time for something like that. So it’s kinda like my side-interest – that thing I read about and occasionally nurture by going to conferences. I think it would be very rewarding to end a career doing something as meaningful as human rights protection. Most people think of sweat shops or that all human rights violations happen in developing countries. But even the United States has problems and even professional workers like chemists become indentured in other countries.
My other choice is Sr. Director, Miscellaneous Stuff. You know, late in career this stuff really matters. The way my local newspaper does obituaries is the deceased’s name in bold letters followed by slightly smaller bold letters summarizing their whole life in a few words:
Michael DeArmond Rouse Liked fast cars and outdoor sports
Jeanne Lois Reynolds WWII Navy Reservist, grew up on a farm in Clinton
Tish Lascelle Really good at miscellaneous stuff
But still, I have to offer up some ideas for my own development and career growth this week. I know this about myself…I gravitate to white space – things that are leading edge, things that aren’t even jobs at my company yet, but I think should be. That leaves my bosses unsure what to do with me.
The white space I see currently is in human rights. I don’t believe my company is doing all they can to identify human rights risks across the business or to manage them. I think we need a human rights “Czar” because our current view of human rights is too narrow. I’ve been shopping this idea around for a while but have yet to convince the right people it’s time for something like that. So it’s kinda like my side-interest – that thing I read about and occasionally nurture by going to conferences. I think it would be very rewarding to end a career doing something as meaningful as human rights protection. Most people think of sweat shops or that all human rights violations happen in developing countries. But even the United States has problems and even professional workers like chemists become indentured in other countries.
My other choice is Sr. Director, Miscellaneous Stuff. You know, late in career this stuff really matters. The way my local newspaper does obituaries is the deceased’s name in bold letters followed by slightly smaller bold letters summarizing their whole life in a few words:
Michael DeArmond Rouse Liked fast cars and outdoor sports
Jeanne Lois Reynolds WWII Navy Reservist, grew up on a farm in Clinton
Tish Lascelle Really good at miscellaneous stuff