The blind spot

Ever wondered about ‘blind spot’ in your career? It dawned upon me during a Sunday evening drive with a cousin of mine. He remarked that the ‘blind spot’ (part of the car that blocks vision) in my car was posing enormous challenge especially while anticipating turns on the long winding road from Lonawala to Pune. Having driven the car for over 2 years, ‘blind spot’ was something that I chose to neglect. After all, it was just a fraction of a second experience and nothing unusual can happen in that period. It wasn’t a very convincing response as I could make out from his face and he reeled out accident cases that occurred as a result of a millisecond of negligence. While leaving he asked me to be careful about the blind spot.

The next morning newspapers had unusual photographs on the front page – airhostesses. While most of them displayed a toned-down disposition, there were a few antagonized ones up in arms. None of the flight attendants had anticipated a drastic step of this nature from their employer. One of them was quoted saying she was asked not to report to duty when she reached the airport. Couple of others were featured in a box on the front page, highlighting their focus to be a flight attendant, move to Mumbai and the expenses incurred to secure a job with the leading airline and finally how their dream was shattered in a day. Nobody anticipated this despite the mounting losses airlines were reporting at that time. The airline’s case was one that hogged limelight in India. World over, the year 2009 saw millions of people losing jobs and then blaming their organizations and economy for being cold-blooded.

I’d like to believe that people know the possibility of a job loss but become enamored with what they are pursuing that they choose to neglect that remotest possibility. Just like how I chose to neglect the blind spot in my car. Most of the my friends intellectually understand that the industry is transforming but stick to the tried and tested skill sets and knowledge, which very clearly will not be a differentiator. “We will see when the change gets onto us,” is the customary response. Should we get into trouble and then run paranoid seeking to re-build ourselves?

Not that one has to reflect insecurity but it is important to understand from the network of friends what is happening in one’s office and industry. More importantly, be ready for the distant opportunity by continuously attempting to grab it. Remember, companies aren’t chasing market share but opportunity share so as to build a secure future. Why not us?