Five realities in the workplace (Part 2 of 2)

The third reality of the workplace is that there will be temptations, usually financial or sexual. For example, sales people may be tempted to fudge on their expense account. Or an unscrupulous supplier offers a kickback to a purchasing assistant in exchange for the order. A married employee may be attracted to a co-worker and before long he jeopardizes not only his career, but also his marriage.

How do we fight this? Before you step into the real world, establish your moral compass. Have a set of non-negotiable principles before the heat of the battle. Otherwise, when you are in the midele of the war and you are ill-prepared, you will vacillate. If you don’t stand for something, you will fall at anything.

In some multinational companies, interviewers look for sings of integrity in the applicant through hypothetical situations. Alex Castillo, the former President of Del Monte Philippines, puts it this way, “Core values are within the chambers of one’s heart. Most yougn people don’t think about their core values because you will be tempted from Day 1. They are the screen by which you will say: yes, no, I will do this, I won’t do that, it’s okay, no way, it’s okay. If the core value is the issue, then the decision is clear-cut. If it’s a grey area, talk to your parents, your boss, your wise friends, your pastor or priest.”

Have a personal brand

Suppose the Board of Directors of your company needs somebody to oversee a strategic project or negotiate a sensitive project that will spell prosperity or doom to the business. Will your name come into their mind? Create a perception that there is no one in the company – better yet, in the job market – quite like you. David Bach wrote, “What you need to understand is that nothing determiones your value in the marketplace more than how you position yourself. To get people to think of you in a certain way, you’ve got to present yourself in a certain way.”

The corporate world is littered with too many mediocre people. So if you want to be in the radar screen of upper management, you must stand out. Start by identifying your strongest, marketable skills. Notice I said skill, not attribute, You may be the nicest fellow on earth, but as one HR consultant puts it, “nice” is not a skill. Furthermore, make sure these are skills that give value to your employer. It is also goot to ask friends and co-workers who know you well to help you create that list (they may cite what you have missed).

Lastly, keep a balanced life

Many people just work, work, work. Then one, five or ten years down the line, they wail, “Is this all life has to offer?” While you are still young, realize that your career is not your life. It is an integral part of your life, but not the whole of life itself.

I am learning that we won’t know what will make us happy in our career until we know what will make us happy in life. If your goal is to make money, sooner or later, you will get bored, especially if the bigger paycheck comes with bigger pressure. If your aim is to look good, you will get tired of the masquerade. So before you formulate your career goals, craft your life goals first. What is the purpose of your existence? What are you on earth for? To serve the community? To serve God? Decide on a bigger, nobler passion. This will not only guide you on your career choices, but makes you eager to go to the office every morning.

Don’t forget your family. What is the use of having a prestigious title but your relationships with your parents, spouse and kids are in shambles? Don’t neglect your health, either. Too many oeopke work themselves into ulcers and hypertension. Then instead of enjoying their hard-earned money, they pour it instead to pills and medical bills. Finally, don’t forget God. In the midst of the hectic workplace, remember that while we give our very best in our jobs, it is God who ultimately gives us success.

Dear graduates, recall these five realities: Keep learning. Know what is involved in your chosen profession. Hang on to your integrity. Have a passion for excellence. Live a balanced life. There are more tips, but these are the paramount principles I want to impart to you for now. Let them be the foundation of your career. May God grant you the desires of your heart. –Nelson Dy, the Philippine Star