Dr. John Articles
| Be a workplace Survivor using show's career lessons |
 |
| Written by Dr. John McFerran |
| Saturday, 12 June 2010 00:00 |
|
When the reality show Survivor debuted a decade ago, many people viewed it as a microcosm of society. It was also an eerily familiar representation of the modern workplace. One pundit even likened TV host Jeff Probst to a resident HR specialist. He facilitates group activities, initiates open discussions, dispenses rewards and ultimately, announces when it's time to snuff out your tiki torch and go home. Ten years and 20 seasons later, there are still similarities between the game play on the reality show and surviving the challenges of the workplace. After all, getting ahead has always been about forming long-term strategies, forging the right alliances and focusing on a desired outcome. Among the valuable career lessons that can be learned from Survivor: Lesson No. 1: Be true to yourself. Most Survivor winners from the past 20 seasons claimed the secret of their success was never compromising their values. They knew who they were at the onset of the game and stayed true to their essence. In the same way, it is important to understand your values and ethics, so that you can remain steadfast to those guiding principles throughout your career. Lesson No. 2: Know where you stand in your alliance. Your alliance is made up of the people you choose to surround yourself. But like in Survivor, your workplace alliance can be a help or it can be a hindrance. Evaluate the relationships you have and how others' perceptions of you are shaped by the core company you keep. Is it time to reach out to others outside the alliance? Building new connections will help you expand your personal network and extend your influence at work. Lesson No. 3: Stick with a strategy that will see you through. While it is impossible to anticipate every change or challenge that will come your way, having a consistent strategy for career success will ensure you can get through almost anything. Set realistic goals and then plot out your efforts accordingly to achieve them. Lesson No. 4: Find a way to work with people you wouldn't choose as friends. While your workplace alliance is made up of an inner circle of trusted friends, it's necessary to stay on the good side of everyone around you. This includes co-workers with annoying habits or traits that rub you the wrong way. A little nice goes a long way, especially true if they move up in the organization some day. Should they be able to recall that you were easy to get along with and worked well with them, you just may find yourself moving ahead too. Lesson No. 5: Realize when it's time to fly under the radar. Every workplace has its share of shy, quiet types and big, showy personalities. Which are you? Hopefully, a little of both. It is valuable to be able to shine and command the attention of others just as it is to be introspective and focused on your work. It's advantageous to know when to keep a low profile and how to block out the distractions of others, especially if it helps to avoid the pitfalls of office politics, gossip and backstabbing. Lesson No. 6: Celebrate the rewards as a team. On Survivor, winning a team reward challenge brings such luxuries as a hot shower, a slice of pizza or a message from home. In the office, reward challenges come in the form of winning a new customer, account or contract. Both present a unique opportunity for team building. Working together and communicating effectively to reach a common goal is a natural way to relate and create cohesiveness. Celebrating the "win" together is the icing on the cake. If there is an ultimate lesson to be learned, it's that there is more than one path to success. During every season of Survivor, an unexpected victor emerges. There is no short cut or surefire formula to securing the big prize, which is why there is never a clear-cut winner among the ruthless, the genteel, the athletic or the scrupulous castaways. But something that each champion has proven is that in order to outwit, outplay and outlast the rest, one must master the hard and soft skills to strategize, make lasting coalitions, reach consensus and build bridges. All these things can also help you gain the winning edge in the working world, where your survival and success in the game depends on how well smart you play. -- With reporting by Barbara Chabai
http://www.davidkspencer.com/2010/04/13/leadership-lessons-from-survivor/#more-591
|