Have you noticed how difficult it can be for someone to describe what they do for a living these days? You don't have to manage anyone to be a manager. Many job titles are ambiguous. Many knowledge or information based jobs didn't exist 10 years ago.
There's a distinctly interpretive version of almost every job title. Even the classical professions of doctor or lawyer give rise to a follow up summary statement, if not a descriptive paragraph about what kind of doctor or lawyer.
Everyone, it seems, has to be a specialist. Accountants, tradespeople, managers, engineers, miners, boat-builders, nurses, pilots, athletes, actors, consultants, journalists, teachers, even aeronautical engineers and nuclear physicists and of course, IT professionals all have a significant bit of explaining to do about what they do for a living.
And these days, when we ask that question, we've come to expect a conversation, not just an answer.
A friend of mine recently asked me what title she should give to a new role she was looking to create in her organisation. The title, it seems, will help attract the right kind of candidate. "And it's a specialist senior role. I don't want just a regular [burger]," she explained.
Descriptive add-ons including Senior, Consultant, Specialist, Analyst, Coordinator are used to distinguish a role from that of a regular burger.
As a professional communicator with a background that includes sales, marketing and project management, it disturbs me that our job monikers have taken on such importance. It's all about branding, but when it comes to job titles, we are suffering from incurable brand confusion.
Being a sales person, sales executive, or sales assistant is an honourable job. Like every other profession, it can be done by dishonourable people. If you're in sales, don't call your job a consultant, analyst or "solution provider." Let's reclaim ordinary job titles, and if we need to be brand conscious, take responsibility for our own brand, the name on our driver's licence.
When in comes to job titles, we don't need spin. We need integrity.
Job Titles
Job Descriptions
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Monday, May 08, 2006
Expectation can move mountains
A friend of mine recently commented, off this blog, on the miners in Beaconsfield (see earlier post Miracle Rescue, Miracle Information) and described the situation in terms of the expectancy surrounding it.
For over a week now, families and friends, rescuers and supporters, local and global communities, and especially media crews have developed some major expectations of seeing miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb come up through the now famous gates of the mine. News updates have been continuous. Here's the latest on NineMSN.
Unavoidable speculation and anticipation about when they would be freed has led to frustration and disappointment.
These mining communities seem to be pretty canny though.
These people seem to understand that things will happen in their own time and order. Somehow there is a great wisdom in accepting that you can't go rushing the disturbance of the Earth. Even if you can, you must not, regardless of the expectations and the enthusiasm to re-unite these men wit their loved ones.
So since the discovery of the miracle of their survival, more than a week has gone by. A week of expectancy that soon they would be rescued. Several times we've thought it would be today, or tomorrow morning, or it will take about 24 hours to get them, no 48 hours... I wonder how it must feel for the actual miners doing the drilling, blasting and digging?... and for Todd and Brant who by now must have built up some huge expectations of being with their families... soon.
Along with the miracle of their survival, and their eventual rescue, we are witnessing a great example of the miracle of our information age and an indomitable spirit of expectancy. Some of the best things happen out of expectancy, and it's a powerful force.
Some people wait a whole lifetime for their beloved football team to win a premiership.
Despite the lack of precise information about when, we can stay as informed about the progress of this miracle rescue as we want, because it WILL happen. To anyone feeling jaded by it all, think of the jubilation and joy that will be experienced when it does happen.
Keep the faith. Sydney Swans eventually won a premiership, and Todd and Brant will be out... safely and soon enough.
For over a week now, families and friends, rescuers and supporters, local and global communities, and especially media crews have developed some major expectations of seeing miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb come up through the now famous gates of the mine. News updates have been continuous. Here's the latest on NineMSN.
Unavoidable speculation and anticipation about when they would be freed has led to frustration and disappointment.
These mining communities seem to be pretty canny though.
These people seem to understand that things will happen in their own time and order. Somehow there is a great wisdom in accepting that you can't go rushing the disturbance of the Earth. Even if you can, you must not, regardless of the expectations and the enthusiasm to re-unite these men wit their loved ones.
So since the discovery of the miracle of their survival, more than a week has gone by. A week of expectancy that soon they would be rescued. Several times we've thought it would be today, or tomorrow morning, or it will take about 24 hours to get them, no 48 hours... I wonder how it must feel for the actual miners doing the drilling, blasting and digging?... and for Todd and Brant who by now must have built up some huge expectations of being with their families... soon.
Along with the miracle of their survival, and their eventual rescue, we are witnessing a great example of the miracle of our information age and an indomitable spirit of expectancy. Some of the best things happen out of expectancy, and it's a powerful force.
Some people wait a whole lifetime for their beloved football team to win a premiership.
Despite the lack of precise information about when, we can stay as informed about the progress of this miracle rescue as we want, because it WILL happen. To anyone feeling jaded by it all, think of the jubilation and joy that will be experienced when it does happen.
Keep the faith. Sydney Swans eventually won a premiership, and Todd and Brant will be out... safely and soon enough.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Where's the Leading Edge?
There used to be an easily recognisable leading edge in information technology.
For processors and printers it was how fast, for data storage it was how much for how much, for everything else it's bigger, brighter, smaller and snappier for less.
In software, the leading edge was often around operating systems and relational databases. At one stage there was an undeclared pissing contest among O/S and database vendors as to which had most influence on the leading edge of IT.
I caught up with an old (youthful) Gen X friend in the business today. He has not only established a successful online information business, but is constantly looking for and finding ways that the Internet, and more specifically, Web 2 is opening up new frontiers. He's not your typical entrepreneurial business type, just someone with a passion for building and nurturing businesses that extend the edge of the technology to deliver products and services of value - faster and snappier for less.
"The trouble is that whatever is developed, anyone who hears about it wants it. But they don't want to pay for it," he observed.
"No sh*t, Sherlock," I thought to myself. Someone builds a better mousetrap and finds that not everyone who beats a path is willing to buy. Some fundamental economics and marketing lessons here.
My friend spoke of a new application he is helping to bring to market. It's at some edge, an edge that appeals to a market that wants to develop their own forms and capture information interactively in there own emails or websites - the stuff that developers charge squillions for. This "application app" is at the leading edge. But whose edge? If it doesn't interest you, not yours.
We both acknowledge our own crusty cynicism about claims of being at the edge of technology, the state of the art and so on. But if there is something that empowers us to be more productive, have more fun, reduce the time we have to spend away from those we love and move us all a little closer to the nirvana of a transparent, accessible Internet, Web 2.0 or blogsphere, it's an edge I'm interested in.
By definition, your view of the edge is determined by where you're standing. The leading edge is an arbitrary and constantly moving point. I hope my friend and his application developer find a market, make squillions and contribute to the global web tapestry.
Cheers to anyone who creates a new edge. I'm getting dizzy looking at all the new edges in web technology. I'm just going to pick a point on my virtual horizon, sail not too close to the edge but anchor in places that offer me a chance to enjoy the view.
My own edges will be on different planes, and will probably be achieved with the aid of leading edge application apps.
For processors and printers it was how fast, for data storage it was how much for how much, for everything else it's bigger, brighter, smaller and snappier for less.
In software, the leading edge was often around operating systems and relational databases. At one stage there was an undeclared pissing contest among O/S and database vendors as to which had most influence on the leading edge of IT.
I caught up with an old (youthful) Gen X friend in the business today. He has not only established a successful online information business, but is constantly looking for and finding ways that the Internet, and more specifically, Web 2 is opening up new frontiers. He's not your typical entrepreneurial business type, just someone with a passion for building and nurturing businesses that extend the edge of the technology to deliver products and services of value - faster and snappier for less.
"The trouble is that whatever is developed, anyone who hears about it wants it. But they don't want to pay for it," he observed.
"No sh*t, Sherlock," I thought to myself. Someone builds a better mousetrap and finds that not everyone who beats a path is willing to buy. Some fundamental economics and marketing lessons here.
My friend spoke of a new application he is helping to bring to market. It's at some edge, an edge that appeals to a market that wants to develop their own forms and capture information interactively in there own emails or websites - the stuff that developers charge squillions for. This "application app" is at the leading edge. But whose edge? If it doesn't interest you, not yours.
We both acknowledge our own crusty cynicism about claims of being at the edge of technology, the state of the art and so on. But if there is something that empowers us to be more productive, have more fun, reduce the time we have to spend away from those we love and move us all a little closer to the nirvana of a transparent, accessible Internet, Web 2.0 or blogsphere, it's an edge I'm interested in.
By definition, your view of the edge is determined by where you're standing. The leading edge is an arbitrary and constantly moving point. I hope my friend and his application developer find a market, make squillions and contribute to the global web tapestry.
Cheers to anyone who creates a new edge. I'm getting dizzy looking at all the new edges in web technology. I'm just going to pick a point on my virtual horizon, sail not too close to the edge but anchor in places that offer me a chance to enjoy the view.
My own edges will be on different planes, and will probably be achieved with the aid of leading edge application apps.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Time to make a living
A recent post on Squash that alludes to time "Making a living in the smallest possible time" caused me to reflect (and I had the time!)
In it, Phil Sim credits Paul Graham with some commentary that supports the idea encapsulated in the heading. Not far beneath the surface of this commentary is some sadness. While I hope that neither Phil or Paul have recently experienced bereavement, nothing makes us more respectful of time than death.
Other than actual death, everything else is an artificial deadline. And in our extravagant use of language in business, we speak of deadlines, even drop deadlines. Our lives - and our computers, the Internet and virtual worlds - are defined by chronology. This is a universally accepted measure broken into years, months, days, hours... nanoseconds.
As Phil seems to imply, I completely support the idea of making a living in the smallest possible. I spend time dreaming of ways to earn a living that will support me without taking up my time. I have a long list of things I'd like to be doing other than making a living, and I am forced by my circumstances, nature and patterns of behaviour to compromise this conflict.
We speak of realtime, Internet time, face time and "time for a chat" (usually not good)
Recently, I have come to understand time in a different boomerexy way.
Theologians, philosophers and rhetoricians make various interpretations of kairos. To me, kairos captures those moments in your life that give it definition. The time you kissed, had sex, proposed, married, became a parent, got fired, dumped or failed some test, won something or were elevated in some way for the first time.
While chronos time ticks along as I contemplate making a living in the smallest possible time, it's kairos moments for which I live. I'm no less committed to getting the money thing sorted out, and I am increasingly conscious of leveraging my making-a-living-days more effective, but kairos time can not be compressed. After all, how long does a decision take? Not the processing, contemplation, procrastination... a decision.
Seems we're all a few (kairos) decisions away from making a living. In the meanwhile, using your precious chronological allocation to hug someone you love (or better still, tell them), be with them or do that thing you've been meaning to, it's a small concession with potentially great reward. Do it even if, as a result, it takes you a moment longer to make your living.
In it, Phil Sim credits Paul Graham with some commentary that supports the idea encapsulated in the heading. Not far beneath the surface of this commentary is some sadness. While I hope that neither Phil or Paul have recently experienced bereavement, nothing makes us more respectful of time than death.
Other than actual death, everything else is an artificial deadline. And in our extravagant use of language in business, we speak of deadlines, even drop deadlines. Our lives - and our computers, the Internet and virtual worlds - are defined by chronology. This is a universally accepted measure broken into years, months, days, hours... nanoseconds.
As Phil seems to imply, I completely support the idea of making a living in the smallest possible. I spend time dreaming of ways to earn a living that will support me without taking up my time. I have a long list of things I'd like to be doing other than making a living, and I am forced by my circumstances, nature and patterns of behaviour to compromise this conflict.
We speak of realtime, Internet time, face time and "time for a chat" (usually not good)Recently, I have come to understand time in a different boomerexy way.
Theologians, philosophers and rhetoricians make various interpretations of kairos. To me, kairos captures those moments in your life that give it definition. The time you kissed, had sex, proposed, married, became a parent, got fired, dumped or failed some test, won something or were elevated in some way for the first time.
While chronos time ticks along as I contemplate making a living in the smallest possible time, it's kairos moments for which I live. I'm no less committed to getting the money thing sorted out, and I am increasingly conscious of leveraging my making-a-living-days more effective, but kairos time can not be compressed. After all, how long does a decision take? Not the processing, contemplation, procrastination... a decision.
Seems we're all a few (kairos) decisions away from making a living. In the meanwhile, using your precious chronological allocation to hug someone you love (or better still, tell them), be with them or do that thing you've been meaning to, it's a small concession with potentially great reward. Do it even if, as a result, it takes you a moment longer to make your living.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Cardio-Technology Smokes - NOT
I had a check-up with my cardiologist today. This, by the way, is something baby boomers and an increasing number of Gen Xers need to do. Me, because I have a bit of heart disease in my family history, and well, because I can.
Both my GP and my cardiologist say things like, “There are some risk factors you can’t do anything about: your age, your genes and sex.” For some reason when my (female) cardiologist – we’ll call her Doctor P cause that’s what her surname starts with – says that, at some level, I always snigger. I know she means gender.
Anyway, the other factors are behavioural – exercise, diet and not doing dumb things like smoking.
So this tech savvy blogger is in the office of the office waiting for Dr P, and it occurs to me that my consultation will be more valuable if she has ALL the latest information. Like the results of the recent blood tests ordered by my GP.
So I mentioned this to the receptionist / office manager thinking “she can probably access it online, or the pathology company can send it electronically…”
Not so. Amidst the technology available to the leading edge of cardiology (and I mean everything that goes beep and scans for tiny little defects of the chest region) accessing blood tests over a secure session on the Internet has a way to go.
Almost to my joy and with some sense of nostalgia, the information was retrieved from the pathologist by way of a personal phone call and a subsequent fax.
My consultation went well. Thankfully, I’m in the low risk area. I DON’T SMOKE. Age, gender and genetic disposition allowing, this correspondent will be around for several Internet generations.
Meanwhile, I will discuss with the bride what we can do about the sex thing.
Both my GP and my cardiologist say things like, “There are some risk factors you can’t do anything about: your age, your genes and sex.” For some reason when my (female) cardiologist – we’ll call her Doctor P cause that’s what her surname starts with – says that, at some level, I always snigger. I know she means gender.
Anyway, the other factors are behavioural – exercise, diet and not doing dumb things like smoking.
So this tech savvy blogger is in the office of the office waiting for Dr P, and it occurs to me that my consultation will be more valuable if she has ALL the latest information. Like the results of the recent blood tests ordered by my GP.
So I mentioned this to the receptionist / office manager thinking “she can probably access it online, or the pathology company can send it electronically…”
Not so. Amidst the technology available to the leading edge of cardiology (and I mean everything that goes beep and scans for tiny little defects of the chest region) accessing blood tests over a secure session on the Internet has a way to go.
Almost to my joy and with some sense of nostalgia, the information was retrieved from the pathologist by way of a personal phone call and a subsequent fax.
My consultation went well. Thankfully, I’m in the low risk area. I DON’T SMOKE. Age, gender and genetic disposition allowing, this correspondent will be around for several Internet generations.
Meanwhile, I will discuss with the bride what we can do about the sex thing.
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