Month: February 2019
How to Prevent Personal Obsolescence
Here are three simple actions you can take to help prevent your own “personal obsolescence.” Warning: Personal obsolescence in a leader / manager can manifest itself in organizational underperformance, less than optimal personal compensation, and even unemployment. EMBRACE YOUR INDUSTRY & MARKET: More than 2,500 years ago the great Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu (544 BC to 496 BC) wisely observed: “If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.” To modify this ancient axiom a little, “You need not fear a hundred salary reviews, decisions, or market / industry changes, if you know the industry and the market.” Having worked a dozen years for a large conglomerate before founding my own companies, I witnessed a common mistake by new division executives who often believed they didn’t need to put in the considerable extra time required to learn the industry, market, and or even their products. This mistake was most often rooted in the erroneous belief that their highly developed “soft” skills would win the day for them. Soft skills, which include people skills, are important. However, it is the preponderance of a combination of “hard” with “soft” skills that will make your organization and you successful. If you don’t take the time & effort to learn them, your subordinates, peers, and superio
