Reality Check

I participated in a career path workshop the past 2 months at my company. The focus was on reflection and understanding your own desires for your career. We talked about each of our generations and the ambiguous descriptions that are attached by 'analysts' and 'experts' in the field of generational study. We also took a 'DISC Assessment' to figure out our own personality. So yea, I can't lie, I was, and still am skeptical of the value of this exercise.

However, despite my skepticism, I still came away thinking about a couple points that in the end I agree with. One is about me and the other is about work in general.

1 - Through the DISC Assessment, my score put me in the category of an I (I=Influence) for both my work social behavior and social behavior (outside of work). Although the description for 'Influence' as well as the other types was rather general, I was satisfied to discover (whether 100% true or not) that I tend to act with a similar personality in and outside of work. I think this is important when reviewing the 2nd takeaway.

2 - At the end of each career path session, we discussed 1-2 things that got us out of bed every day to walk/drive/metro to the office. For most sessions, people gave very stock answers (probably because our CEO was sitting in and listening half the time), but I actually enjoyed this part of the session. I felt it drove home the core value of a career path working session. Why are you at work? And if you don't know or don't like it, why aren't you doing something about it?

The reality check that I took away from the past 2 months of reflection is rather cliché, but in my opinion one of truth. To overcome any myths, disadvantages, inefficiencies surrounding informal networks, one has to have the passion for the work they are doing and set genuine goals to reach and aspire to attain such goals. As a CEO, Manager, or even an entry-level employee, if your purpose is to just walk in and walk out every day without inserting some kind of passion for what you do, then there will be know reality check in terms of informal networks within an organization.