Read This!

I had to sift through a stack of very, very poor reading in the past month in preparation for a special workshop, all about finding meaning in work and reviving enthusiasm. Somewhere – and if I could find the reference, i  would give it to you – there was one gem among nauseating Zen goo:

How do you define your status in the organisation?

You status is the difference between your influence in the organisation and you operational responsibilities.  If your total influence coincides with the areas of your operation influence, you have a reputation (my interpretation!), but 0 status. I had a conversation a couple of weeks ago with a young acquaintance at the beginning of his career. He was bemoaning his lack of status.  This formula, I think should teach him that your reputation according to your rank, but that does not mean that rank and reputation should define your status.

So, young friend, what are you doing to get influence beyond rank and reputation?