Gone are the days when companies hired specialists. Those were the days when, as an experienced leader, you knew what was expected of you in your area of specialisation. You were considered an expert in your specific domain and companies sought you out for your expertise.
But times, they are a-changing... and how!
Job descriptions for senior leadership roles are beginning to sound more like descriptions of caped super-heroes who handle multiple emergencies while flying around in colorful underwear!
Let me explain. I recently was helping a client identify a global IT services delivery head. In the days of yore, a delivery head was just that, a person whose responsibility was to oversee quality delivery of IT services projects for the clients and ensure that people and processes were in place. But the client wanted someone who could handle this role effectively as well as help with identifying new service lines, defining go-to-market strategies, provide sales teams with compelling pitches, make client presentations and establish credibility to swing deals. The only requirement missing in the job description was the person having to wear tights and colorful underwear!
This is a trend I am noticing across industries as well as across roles within organisations. In the continuous effort to reduce costs, create significant differentiation and deliver higher value, companies are looking for the core leadership team across functions to have a holistic view of the markets, clients and the business.
So what does this mean for you and your career? How do you address this requirement, especially when you do not have super-powers?
Companies may not be looking for Superman, but they definitely expect you to have super-powers like each member of the Fantastic Four! For many of us, it is more of a case of having the powers within us, but not knowing it yet. Remember Darth Vader telling Luke "The Force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet."
The trick is to, as Mufasa grandly announced to a confused Simba, "Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of (corporate) Life."
Here are a few pointers that could help you break through some of these walls :
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| Image courtesy : http://bit.ly/uZHQgi |
Job descriptions for senior leadership roles are beginning to sound more like descriptions of caped super-heroes who handle multiple emergencies while flying around in colorful underwear!
Let me explain. I recently was helping a client identify a global IT services delivery head. In the days of yore, a delivery head was just that, a person whose responsibility was to oversee quality delivery of IT services projects for the clients and ensure that people and processes were in place. But the client wanted someone who could handle this role effectively as well as help with identifying new service lines, defining go-to-market strategies, provide sales teams with compelling pitches, make client presentations and establish credibility to swing deals. The only requirement missing in the job description was the person having to wear tights and colorful underwear!
This is a trend I am noticing across industries as well as across roles within organisations. In the continuous effort to reduce costs, create significant differentiation and deliver higher value, companies are looking for the core leadership team across functions to have a holistic view of the markets, clients and the business.
So what does this mean for you and your career? How do you address this requirement, especially when you do not have super-powers?
Companies may not be looking for Superman, but they definitely expect you to have super-powers like each member of the Fantastic Four! For many of us, it is more of a case of having the powers within us, but not knowing it yet. Remember Darth Vader telling Luke "The Force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet."
The trick is to, as Mufasa grandly announced to a confused Simba, "Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of (corporate) Life."
Here are a few pointers that could help you break through some of these walls :
- Remember, while companies are looking for super-heroes, there are not too many people out there who meet all the criteria.
- While companies are looking for super-heroes, they want the ideal candidate to be specialised/ experienced in the specific function they are expected to lead.
- Take every opportunity in your current role and organisation to go beyond your comfort zone and are of specialisation so that you build a range of skills.
- Work on your resume/profile to highlight the multiple skills that you have gained over time, even if these skills are not as strong as your core functional skills.
- Work on gaining knowledge in these unrelated areas. Network and interact with colleagues and friends in unrelated areas; read as much as you can about these areas; use opportunities to participate in training programs to hone these skills.
