Are you caught in a trap

Are you caught in a trap?

Gene Mage

The other day I was speaking with a gentleman employed by a large a utility company. An energy conglomerate acquired his firm a few years ago. He shared how the work environment, over the past several years, had deteriorated. Common courtesy and professional respect have succumbed to ruthlessness. Dialog and teamwork are distant memories. Now the only currency worth talking about is raw political power.

I can relate. I feel for this man. Too old to start over, but too young to retire. Mortgages, college tuitions and the basic fabric of life are interwoven with his organization. To retire early would mean giving up the lion’s share of a pension he has earned over decades of work.

Maybe you can relate. It is incredibly easy to drift from having a career, to a career having you. Some call it the golden handcuffs. I think that is too nice of a phrase. It is more like the bear trap. Leaders who once exercised their free will find themselves enslaved to their jobs.

To be effective, leaders need to exercise moral courage. But once the financial jaws snap shut, moral courage goes out the window. While some are heroic enough to speak out about workplace abuses, unethical business practices, or foolish decisions, most people are too frightened to put their careers at risk in the name of principle. Positive action succumbs to the tyranny of silence.

But it does not have to be that way. Leaders can take definite steps to maintain their personal integrity and career success, and avoid becoming trapped in the grasp of one organization. You can free yourself if you make the right choices along the way. It is never too late to start. Here are some ideas to get you going.

Stay debt-free. My neighbor was “upside down” in his house for a couple of years, owing more on the mortgage than the market value. Debt incurred for homes, cars, vacations and belongings creates a relentless demand for cash. Those who live under a cloud of debt cannot, even for a month, miss a paycheck. They live a couple of paychecks from bankruptcy. The inability to survive a brief time of transition severely limits career options.
Stay up-to-date. Over time, individuals can become experts in their own companies, but only marginally relevant to the outside world. To avoid that trap, participate actively in trade associations. Make sure you are well-connected outside of your own organization, so if you have to make a move, you have some place to go.
Make a back-up plan. Some people never consider what to do at the end of a corporate career until the day after the retirement party. To be ready, start researching alternative careers earlier. Perhaps you can start a business part-time so that when you are ready to make a run of it you will already have a head start.
Reflect on your values. Decide, before the situation occurs, what moral and ethical boundaries are non-negotiable for you. Better to suffer a brief career transition than a lifetime of regret. Those who compromise their principles on the altar of success reap a harvest of sadness.
Keep learning. My friend in Maryland started a PhD program at age 50. Take courses. Get a new degree. Learn a new skill. Keep the edge.
Expand your horizons. Step out of your insulated corporate cubicle and get in touch with the world “out-there”. Volunteer your time, not just your money. Get involved in the lives of others. Do something for the community that nobody but you will ever know about. Remember that you are a bright, talented, and valuable person regardless of where you hand your hat.

What will you do differently today to make sure you never fall prey to the “trap?”

For more ideas on becoming “Free to Lead” from Leadership Development Author and Speaker Gene C. Mage, visit www.makingitwork.com.