MPW內部網(wǎng)絡是一個在線社區(qū),,商界內外的大咖會在這里及時回答與職業(yè)和領導力有關的問題,。今天的問題是:“對于攀登職場階梯,,所有女性都應該認識到哪一點?”回答者是蘇黎世保險公司全球特種行業(yè)部門負責人勞瑞·巴雷。 我學開車時,,我爸爸會坐在車上教我道路上的規(guī)則,。作為保險人,他在幾乎任何情況下都能迅速做出有效的建議和指點,,告訴我要做什么(不要做什么),,而且他有一句話一直觸動著我,那就是別忘了看后視鏡,。這一點似乎顯而易見,,但那時才16歲的我更注意前面出現(xiàn)的情況,而不是背后,。不過,,就像他經常提醒我的那樣,有時候對我們影響最大的是發(fā)生在身后的事,。 攀登職場階梯其實并無二致,,而且我發(fā)現(xiàn)這條建議在商界同樣作用很大。我們中的大多數(shù)都從職場階梯的底部開始自己的職業(yè)生涯,。就我自己而言,,那是一個理賠方面的入門級職位,如今的大學應屆畢業(yè)生一般都會獲得這樣的工作機會,,以便在公司里得到升遷,。這個崗位的工作內容和職責相當基本,而且并不總是光鮮亮麗,。但這份工作很重要,,它讓我更好地了解了公司,了解了理賠程序以及在職業(yè)生涯中向前邁進的必經之路,。從任何角度來說,,它都是職場階梯的第一級,也是一個開始,。我認真對待這份工作,,全身心地投入其中。 在不斷升職的過程中,,每當我朝著新的方向邁出第一步,,這條建議就會回響在我耳邊,并且一直伴隨著我,。有目標并且一直注視前方固然重要,,但不要忘記來時的路同樣要緊。人們常說,,謙遜是領導者最偉大的品質之一,。有的時候,,只要隔一陣子回頭看看就能完美地做到這一點。 前不久有人聯(lián)系了我,,想跟進我上一任的遺留問題,。我既未參與其中,也不掌握任何相關信息,。此時我又想起了這條建議,。對我來說,無視對方的要求,,或者說默不作聲本來易如反掌,,因為我還有許多能幫我在職場階梯上更進一步的事要做。但在那一刻,,我忽然瞥見了差不多20年前的自己,,我還記得處于那樣的境地是什么感覺。這番回憶讓我意識到我有可能讓他們的工作變得非常困難,,或者,,我有可能幫助他們解決這個問題,而且這樣做或許會幫助別的什么人在職業(yè)道路上邁進,。 我們的注意力往往過于集中在接下來的這一步上,,以至于我們忘了過去邁步向前時是怎樣的情形,以及我們前行時都需要的那些幫助,。雖然我相信我們應該一直關注前方的情況,,但我們也應該時不時地花上一點兒時間來回顧以往,。這樣做不僅會幫我們看到自己所處的整體局勢,,還能讓我們變得謙遜,并且看到那些跟隨著我們的人,。(財富中文網(wǎng)) 譯者:Charlie 校對:詹妮 |
The MPW Insiders Network is an online community where the biggest names in business and beyond answer timely career and leadership questions. Today’s answer for: “What’s one thing every woman should know about climbing the corporate ladder?” is written by Lori Bailey, global head of special lines at Zurich Insurance. When I was learning to drive, my father would ride along with me to teach me the rules of the road. As an insurance man himself, he was always quick to provide helpful advice and tips on what to do (and what not to do) in almost every situation, but there is one piece of advice that always stuck with me: Don’t forget to look in the rearview mirror. It may seem like an obvious point, but as a young 16-year-old, I was more focused with what was going on in front of me rather than what was happening behind me. Yet, as he often reminded me, sometimes it’s what happens behind us that impacts us the most. Climbing the corporate ladder is really no different, and I have found that this advice applies just as much in the business world. Most of us started our careers at the bottom of the corporate ladder. For me, it was an entry-level position in claims that all recent college graduates typically obtained in order to advance to the next level in the organization. The roles and responsibilities of the job were rather basic, and weren’t always glamorous, either. But it was important job, and one that allowed me to better understand the company, the claims processes, and the necessary steps to move forward in my career. In every way possible, it was the bottom step of the ladder, but it was also a beginning. It was a position that I took seriously and embraced fully. As I continued to advance my career, this advice would ring in my ears and stay with me each time I took a step in a new direction. While it’s important to have goals and always be looking in front of you, it’s equally important to not lose sight of where you came from. It is often said that humility is one of the greatest attributes that a leader can possess, and sometimes this is best achieved by simply looking behind you once in a while. I was reminded of this recently when I was contacted by someone who was following up on an from my predecessor—something I was neither involved with nor had any information about. It would have been very easy for me to ignore the request and simply not respond, as I had many other things to do—things that arguably would help me advance further up the corporate ladder. But in that moment, I caught a glimpse of myself—almost 20 years ago—and I remembered what it was like to be in their shoes. In that moment of reflection, I realized that I could have made their job very difficult, or I could help solve a problem that, in turn, would help someone else advance in their career. Too often, we are so focused on getting to the next step that we forget what it was like to be on the steps behind us—and the help we all needed in order to advance. While I believe we should always keep a firm view on what lies ahead, we should also take a moment now and then to look behind us as well. Doing so will not only help you see the bigger picture of what’s around you, but also enable you to be humble, and recognize those who are following your lead. |