It’s interesting how so many employees feel they need their company more than the company needs them. I should say one thing before we get started though. A fulfilling job and career should be a partnership and not a power struggle — those rarely lead to great results. If you feel you’re in a constant fight, the answer might just be this company’s just not the place for you. So why worry about power?
The reality is that large organizations come office politics, favourites and so on. It’s sad, but that’s just how it is. As an employee, I think it’s vital you recognize, accept and increase your value. As Seth Godin has argued, companies strive to make ordinary products for ordinary people. So they want ordinary employees. They’ll make you believe you need them more than they need you. So what about you?
I think Theodore Roosevelt’s saying fits here: “speak softly and carry a big stick“. Employees have already more power than they think and the internet has, once again, changed everything.
Some numbers
First let’s talk about numbers. It’s estimated that the cost of of turnover can be up to 150% of employees’ renumeration. The cost could even by higher for managerial and sales positions (200 to 250%). So think about it, if a company’s average salary is $50,000 per year, the cost of turnover would be $75,000 per departing employee. If you have 1,000 employees and a 10% annual turnover rate…that’s $7.5 million a year in costs! Do your math as it applies to you…
How to stand on equal ground
Assuming the numbers aren’t convincing enough or your boss doesn’t have them top-of-mind, here are some ideas on how you can gain leverage:
Do great work. I’ve already said I’m not a big fan of saying do great work. A vast majority of us go to work wanting to do great. I think what’s important here is to look beyond your job description. Look at where the industry is headed and help the company move in that direction. Change takes time, so figure how to move your company in small increments. For example, maybe your company still relies a lot on traditional advertising, if that’s the case offer to take a tiny percentage of the budget and try an AdWords campaign or start listening to what’s being said online.
Play the politics game. Let me start out by saying I’m NOT a fan of office politics and even less of playing politics. If I did, I’d be a politician. But you can’t ignore it and you have to play it. I there are two ways to play the game — the cheesy way and the non-cheesy way.
The cheesy way is probably what you see all the time…brown-nosing, lying, backstabbing, etc, and that always leeds to is subpar work, but quick profile raising. It’s not very sustainable, so you have to continue doing it, effectively doing no value-added work.
The non-cheesy way is slower to gain traction, but much more stustainable; as Chris Brogan and Julien Smith wrote in Trust Agents
Be active online. Even if your passion isn’t what your comapny does or what your position is, social networks allow you to open new doors. For example, let’s say you love gardening and you have a blog about that. If you stick with it, you’ll increasingly be known as a gardening-person. At some point you’ll get noticed by companies in the field which could open-up some great opportunities. On the flip side, strong online presences can directly increase your influence within the company. Blogging, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, Facebook allow you to broaden your social sphere and brand yourself. Use that.
Who you know and what you know. Go out and meet people. The more people you know, the more you get exposure to great new opportunities. Go to local events in your field…and even better, go to events not directly related. It’s not only who you know, but what you know. Reading books and blogs on various topics allow you to expand your knowledge, figure out new ways to do things. That will lead to new and fresh ideas…stuff you can then try at your company.
Get bills and expenses under control. One the biggest leverages companies have is the salary they pay out. The more money we make, the more stuff we buy and debt we accumulate. Getting all that under control will, in essence, reduce your company’s importance over you. I’m not a financial planner, but there are somethings to look at:
- Reduce your debt (credit cards, lines of credit, financing, etc.);
- Increase revenue sources (you are your own company, look at getting other sources of income that can supplement your current income);
- Save up for the necessities (Save up a few months of rent/mortgage, food and heating so that you know you have a good cushion).
Again, a fulfilling career is based on trust and hard work, but it’s important to realize that you aren’t a disadvantage. It’s an equal partnership. It might seem the employer has all the power, but don’t let yourself believe that.
(Photo credit: JD Hancock)
