(Career) Jousting - a lost art - but one we should still lean on!

Promotable and Fireproof

Your source for quick, actionable advice on maximizing your potential in the age of

fast change, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and uncertainty.

Read time: 3 min.

Steve Degnan here, Advisor Board Member

and former Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).

Relationships, Reputation and Results

are what I see as the driving forces in becoming

Promotable and Fireproof.

Let’s dig in to some quick take advice to make this real.

I’m glad you’re here. Let’s go!

Learn more on SteveDegnan.com

Relationships: Jousting ...

A Lost Art.

In medieval jousting, it was generally accepted that those who took part, including nobles and kings, might get hurt and that no participant would be punished. It was accepted as part of the sport.

As you rise, you will be put into situations with rivals where arguments and disagreements are inevitable. Have a “jousting mentalityˮ and remember itʼs all likely to repeat. Keep emotion in check and a pat on the back ready for your opponent whether you win or lose.

My best experiences in discussions with union leaders were like that. I tried to like them all and to remember it was a good sport we were engaged in.

Reputation: Are you ready for it?

How to recover from career lulls.

There are times when we put our careers on autopilot for a time. Mid-career folks with kids and parents needing care will often stop pursuing, or even tell their bosses that they do not want consideration for promotions for a time. How long this period lasts is variable – some never come out of it.

Regardless, you must remember to TELL the boss when you think you want to come back on the consideration docket for promotions if you have been off it for a time. Donʼt expect mind readers to attend your organizationʼs succession planning meetings to share their results – tell your key stake holders when you are ready.

Results: There's no crying in baseball. Get comfortable in the uncomfortable.

Mindset Alert: if you decide you will focus on results in a serious way, that you will define winning in your particular lane, whatever it may be, be prepared for a certain amount of loneliness.

Even in the most successful organizations, a certain level of mediocrity reigns. Some mediocrity may even look like high performance when benchmarked externally. But inside your organization there is always a pull toward mid-level performance.

When you become that person that pushes toward excellence in the midst of mid-tier performers, you will stick out, and to some, in a negative way. Anticipate this. Get comfortable with the discomfort.

Your Quick Take Clip!

Do you pull or push? In our career pursuits we sometimes have to “joust,” we have to be the ones to pick ourselves up with our own bootstraps, and we need to force ourselves to get comfortable in the discomfort.

However, we also need to pull people into our circles rather than pushing them out for fear of career competition, differing viewpoints, or lack of shared interests. Pulling others in can do wonders for your reputation, you might just find that doing good could be the thing to make your career take flight.