- How can I be a servant leader, If my only focus is myself and achieving my goals in the next two years?
- How can I empower and motivate my team if I myself need to be motivated?
- How can I implement all that I learned in PMP if I feel I am underpaid and underappreciated.
- What's the point of being enthusiastic & initiative if I am not going to get anything in return.
- Why bother if all the effort will be taken by someone else?
- For a 4,000 USD monthly, Am I being underpaid for a person with 8 years experience in the telecom sector inside the UAE.
This is some of my thinking these days, and I wanted to share it for discussion
Here's a little bit about me, I'm 33 years old, I've been working at this company for the past 10 years, since I graduated, and lately, I've been feeling all of the above.
It was important to me to prove to myself first that I am CAPABLE. so I decided to pursue the PMP certification. Luckily, in less than 4 weeks of learning, I passed my PMP exam last week.
I'd be glad to hear any advice or suggestions. Saving Changes...
It is hard to inspire others if you are not motivated. If you truly feel you've done all that you can to get commensurate recognition from your company and there are no further opportunities for growth then you should consider looking at moving to a different organization which might value your credential and experience more.
Kiron Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
It’s not easy to advance in recognition and salary when you enter a large enterprise at an entry-level, as “more senior staff” is often brought in from the outside for advanceable positions. This often occurs due to longevity bias, where one becomes viewed as non-motivated (among other attributes) due to holding the same position/role for an extended period. I’ve also heard first-hand accounts of a “dime a dozen” mindset in the Telecom industry. Which, if true, portrays another tricky dynamic for advancement.
If you are having this “internal conversation with yourself,” then you have the motivation and the ability to take your career (along with your newly minted PMP) to the next level.
33-years old is young, and now you have 10-years of experience coupled with one of the most sought-after certifications. So, as Kiron stated, if the advancement door (door #1) is closed at your employer, then seek out “door #2.” Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
My thoughts are in line with both Kiron and George.
I worked in the gulf region for more than 7 years, and I have a pretty clear idea how the majority of the companies run there including their compensation structure.
If your salary of $4,000 is a base salary and on top of it you get allowances and benefits then that’s not bad at all for someone with 8 years of experience but if the $4,000 includes everything then yes, I’d agree that it is probably around 25% less that what you’d see.
I’ve been in a situation like yours in the past and exerted all efforts to make things work but that went no were so I decided to change employers and that worked much better for me. In the sector you’re working in, you shouldn’t have a problem finding another job given you have many years of experience and you’ve been with the same company for the last 10 years which is an asset because companies appreciate people who look for long term employment.
I understand that after all these years you might feel hesitant to change employers but sometimes change is the best and only solution you are left with and you’re young so it’s not to late to do that.
It’s hard to be a servant leader and motivate others while you are yourself not motivated and/or not in the right head space.
Good Luck ! Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Dear Anonymous
I commend you for sharing your thoughts and asking for help. That is great!
The best way forward may be to get a mentor from outside your company. You could discuss these personal feelings with him or her.
And it also starts your development from inside to the outside. Which helps in not feeling selfish but developing in yourself empathy, grow your network and become embedded in a helping community. Volunteering would help, but also trying to support others, in your team or outside. All this is needed for a servant leader anyhow.
And in particular towards your bosses, who seem currently not to see you as an asset of value. What do they need? How can you help them, without expecting something back?
Stakeholder engagement goes down and sidewards, but also up the hierarchy if you are good.
I doubt if walking away will land you in a better place, as I perceive the root cause of your doubts is in your head, not in the orgchart.
Another observation made is that often people with a PMP (and yes, 4 weeks learning is fast) feel pride and very knowledgable and become less humble. PMP does not give you permission to lecture others, it is rather your internal asset. Unluckily the PMBoK Guide does not give a lot of hints how to become a servant leader, or a better person.
Heads up and stay safe, Thomas Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Thank you Kiron and George for your feedback. It’s time to move on.
Rami I think u nailed it. Exactly I’m scared of change. But I think it’s time to act. I got family to feed and need to man up and do it.
Thomas thank you for your feedback but I think you went completely in a different direction.
The issue it’s not that I’m not valued in the company, in fact it’s the opposite. I got a say on all the technical and project decisions since I’m the technical director in the company.
The main issue as Rami said I’m just scared to change company.
Thank you for your feedback Thomas.
This very helpful
...
1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Nov 13, 2021 3:13 PM
Rami Kaibni
...
I know it's not easy and take courage but I beloeve you got this because it also takes courage to speak up like Thomas said so my advise to you is follow you guts and don't be afraid of change because change in most case is good, one way or another.
Change is hard for most of us, but one thing I would suggest is thinking about your success criteria when you make a big change.
Years ago, I took extensive training on dealing with change as we were about to guide one of the largest Dow 30 companies through a major digital transformation. I can't cite the study, but a data point that sticks in my head over 20 years later is when people accept change.
40% of people accept a major change when their peers accept it too. Another 40% accept change when they achieve a high competency level. 20% accept change when they can achieve good results, regardless of the social acceptance or their own perceived skill level.
The important part is that the 80% who accept change based on their peers or their skill level take about 2 years to feel comfortable vs. the 20% who take about 4 months to accept change when they can start making solid results.
I market myself as an agent of change. You can drop me into virtually any situation and I will figure out how to make positive results quickly if the organization will accept change too. At the 2 year point when most are comfortable, I get bored.
If you want to be more comfortable with major change, re-frame your success criteria. Not everyone is going to be happy. You may feel inept for a while. If you can be happy with results, you'll adapt to change far more quickly.
...
1 reply by anonymous
Nov 14, 2021 9:26 AM
anonymous
...
Thank you very much for sharing this Keith, it's perfect
I've been looking for the next subject to train on after passing my PMP exam and I think change management is what I need now.
Do you have any suggestions on what course I should take?
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Nov 13, 2021 2:18 PM
Replying to anonymous
...
Thank you Kiron and George for your feedback. It’s time to move on.
Rami I think u nailed it. Exactly I’m scared of change. But I think it’s time to act. I got family to feed and need to man up and do it.
Thomas thank you for your feedback but I think you went completely in a different direction.
The issue it’s not that I’m not valued in the company, in fact it’s the opposite. I got a say on all the technical and project decisions since I’m the technical director in the company.
The main issue as Rami said I’m just scared to change company.
Thank you for your feedback Thomas.
This very helpful
I know it's not easy and take courage but I beloeve you got this because it also takes courage to speak up like Thomas said so my advise to you is follow you guts and don't be afraid of change because change in most case is good, one way or another.
...
1 reply by anonymous
Nov 14, 2021 9:34 AM
anonymous
...
Rami, Thank you man!
I cannot express how much your kind words have motivated me.
Saving Changes...
James MubiruIT Manager| Civil Aviation AuthorityKampala, Uganda
Gotten some colleagues with similar issue. They also have persons they supervise but I feel they are not motivating their subordinates because they're unmotivated themselves especially during this period of the the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the job allowances were halted. I have counseled but seems that path has its limitations.
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1 reply by anonymous
Nov 14, 2021 9:39 AM
anonymous
...
Thanks for sharing your friend's experience. I would recommend that you share the above suggestions with them. It might help them to get over these thoughts just as it helped me.
Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Nov 13, 2021 3:02 PM
Replying to Keith Novak
...
Change is hard for most of us, but one thing I would suggest is thinking about your success criteria when you make a big change.
Years ago, I took extensive training on dealing with change as we were about to guide one of the largest Dow 30 companies through a major digital transformation. I can't cite the study, but a data point that sticks in my head over 20 years later is when people accept change.
40% of people accept a major change when their peers accept it too. Another 40% accept change when they achieve a high competency level. 20% accept change when they can achieve good results, regardless of the social acceptance or their own perceived skill level.
The important part is that the 80% who accept change based on their peers or their skill level take about 2 years to feel comfortable vs. the 20% who take about 4 months to accept change when they can start making solid results.
I market myself as an agent of change. You can drop me into virtually any situation and I will figure out how to make positive results quickly if the organization will accept change too. At the 2 year point when most are comfortable, I get bored.
If you want to be more comfortable with major change, re-frame your success criteria. Not everyone is going to be happy. You may feel inept for a while. If you can be happy with results, you'll adapt to change far more quickly.
Thank you very much for sharing this Keith, it's perfect
I've been looking for the next subject to train on after passing my PMP exam and I think change management is what I need now.
Do you have any suggestions on what course I should take?
...
1 reply by Keith Novak
Nov 15, 2021 5:41 PM
Keith Novak
...
Glad I could help.
I don't have any particular course recommendations but I'm sure there are many webinars to get you started. Just be sure whether it's regarding product configuration management, or organizational change or you might get a dry lecture on status accounting instead of human psychology.
The expected knowledge retention from courses is generally expected to be only around 10-20% even at the university level, so when I want to explore a new subject I do a literature review. Start out with some high level articles to familiarize yourself and get a few ideas. Then you can explore specific parts that interest you in greater detail.
In addition to the reading, take notes, organize your thoughts, write a paper even if you will be the only person to read it. In addition to helping your synthesize the information, those activities will help develop mental pathways.
Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Nov 13, 2021 3:13 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
...
I know it's not easy and take courage but I beloeve you got this because it also takes courage to speak up like Thomas said so my advise to you is follow you guts and don't be afraid of change because change in most case is good, one way or another.
Rami, Thank you man!
I cannot express how much your kind words have motivated me. Saving Changes...
"Nearly every great advance in science arises from a crisis in the old theory, through an endeavor to find a way out of the difficulties created. We must examine old ideas, old theories, although they belong to the past, for this is the only way to understand the importance of the new ones and the extent of their validity."
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