Impending Stages of a Professional

Every personal and professional side of us go through multiple iterations and evolutions. The inner hidden motive is to find growth and growth dwelling on wisdom that will eventually bring us monetary and non-monetary success (basis the Maslow’s life stage you are in). What people don’t know or realize is that this journey moves from one step to another in a defined pattern which is universally true irrespective of an individual’s background, age, gender or any other profile’s variable you can be aware of.

I have broken this into six life journey of professional stages which we take to reach the zenith of our professional excellence.

1.      Unaware Inability:

People start this stage by thinking they know everything. The confidence is there to drive and execute things but the grasp of the reality is missing. Missing to a major extent where they are unaware that the ability, they think they have will be not helpful to solve the current persisting problem as they would be needing to grow a new set of skills or competencies which should be relevant to current reality. You were as good as the problem you solved in last tenure. Newer problem requires new thought process and mindset. This is a dangerous position to be in as you think you know things but are failing as you have not read the situation well. You are showcasing unaware inability and can fall in the broth of failure if you don’t move out of this stage quickly.

2.      Aware Inability:

People in this stage work on any of the two sets of mindsets: Positive or negative. A positive mindset will result in pushing or throttling an individual to start working in the areas they think their inability lies. They will be aware on the competence shortcoming and will be optimistic that sooner and later they will overcome it. They will take every chance to seek newer paths of learning to help them become a well-rounded professional in the current schemes of things. A life long learner’s attitude is what will help them sail through this situation. Any self-doubt in case arises can be removed by small and quick wins that will eventually help in confidence building and competency enhancement. On the other side a negative mindset will propel them further down in the dark deep abyss of self-doubt and insecurity. The feeling of failure is real and much more enhanced when you are in this stage with negative mindset plastered all over it.

3.      Ability with Confidence

People in this stage are there because they have dirtied their hand and have rolled up their sleeves to get the work done by themselves. They have established themselves not by accident but by effort and knowledge. There is an amount of respect which they yield in their peer and business network. Their opinion matters not because of tenure but the logic and insight they bring to the table. They can be trusted and looked at for suggestion and for driving things to its logical and fruitful closure. Their confidence plays a major part in their standing now. They can take risk in this stage because they know they have the cushion of knowledge, skill, attitude and trust of stakeholders to fall on if they slip. They are at a cusp of transition where they will soon help in developing a pipeline of individuals who can carry on the good work they had started by transitioning from the first 2 stages with lot of commitment and self-belief. The game is just started for them to move forward.

4.      Saturation

People in this stage stop showing growth mindset and want to settle down now. They are ready to move towards the sunset of their learning. They are at a stage where they are good solid performer but don’t want to move beyond the boundaries of their playing field. They have a cult like following and respect for the work and competency they bring but newness of ideas is slowing becoming rare. An amount of ego starts creeping in that command a major part of their daily work schedule. Now these individuals are ready to move towards a stage where they can act like a coach or mentor for others. A lot depends now on what they want to give back to the organization and team. This is the stage where a secured or an unsecured leaders’ origins begin. Secure if they are self-aware positively. Unsecure if they think organization owes them a lot and no one can reach to the level they have reached. Moving to stage 5 needs a lot of effort from this current stage.

5.      Aware Ability

People in this stage are lot like stage 4 but with a positive mindset and thought process of life long learning. They know they have arrived on the center stage now but this is not the last milestone of professional journey. They are good in their work and now look to contribute not only to their own growth but also to organizations, teams and individual’s growth. They are the Dhoni’s of the team. Captain cool who can steer the ship nonchalantly but do not let false ego or pride creep in their daily functioning. They have experienced each and every stage deeply and know exactly what characteristic one needs to grow to move from each stages. They are now working for legacy which will be long remembered long once they will close the shutter on their professional journey. Their definition of work is now boundary less functioning. They have grown into true T shaped professionally. Experts and deeply aware about many areas of the business. A rare professional who are not easy to find.

6.      Unaware Ability

People in this stage are true magicians. They have gone through such a grind that now they produce result with the least of efforts. They are so good now with the result that they don’t even realize how much less effort they have put in that task. They have turned themselves as a SME who can call and predict the outcome even without reading the full red herring prospectus. They are the management or business gurus that create institutions and organization. They think of future while creating the present. They are known by their past laurel, respected for their present work ethics and Midas touch.

Stages at a Snapshot

Unaware Inability

                 Aware Inability

                              Ability with Confidence

                                                   Saturation

                                                                Aware Ability

                                                                                    Unaware Ability

As we grow in experience the challenge will be to keep transitioning from one stage to another. It is important to identifying coaches and mentors early in our professional journey who can rationally guide us in all these transitions.