When an organization makes widespread changes, it can cause widespread panic and confusion for employees. Especially if you don’t understand why and how to find your new role in it.
Let’s take Taylor, a supply chain manager, for example. In this economic climate, her organization has been under siege – they’re seeing less revenue and less profit than expected. To cut costs, they decide to reorganize, and Taylor is asked to move from her manager position into a strategic sourcing role as an individual contributor. She feels it’s a step away from the director role she had her eye on. But her organization wants to embrace reassignment of roles vs. layoffs where they can.
This role reassignment strategy is becoming the new norm. If people like Taylor choose to engage, it offers a great opportunity for variety, learning and development. Taylor can get a deeper understanding of the business, its challenges and its future opportunities. This strategy also enables organizations to retain key talent, which strengthens their talent benches while balancing labor costs.
The truth is: Reassignment is positive! It means you were adding value (a.k.a. you’ve made yourself essential!), and they don’t want to lose you. It’s not easy to have your role chosen for you, but if you embrace it, it can be a great career development opportunity you never expected. And the more essential you make yourself, the more expected and unexpected opportunities will come your way. So, how do you ensure you’re making the most of it? How do you make sure you’re essential? Take this quiz to find out.
How Essential Are You?
This self-assessment will help you identify where you are “most and least essential.” Use the results to determine how to be more essential in your work in order to find more opportunities where you can learn and grow.
As you consider your current performance, what are you known for?
Rate each item on a scale of 1 to 4.
After you rate each item, prioritize them from most to least important. To do that, be sure to think broadly about your organization vs. just your point of view.
To interpret your results, look at where you scored yourself a 3 (“I need to LEARN it.”) and what your highest priorities are for your current role. If they overlap, that could be considered a high priority growth opportunity.
Once you’ve determined your potential growth opportunity, take a minute to reflect on these questions:
- What makes you most essential in your work today? And what most prepares you for the future?
- In what priority area can you most grow? In what way?
- What would be the positive impact of your growth?
If you enjoyed this type of assessment and want to help people like Taylor in your organization, make the most out of their role assignment, connect with us to learn more about our personal development tool, GrowWise. Based on self-discovery, GrowWise helps individuals maximize their career potential through growth and development. Individuals are able to identify their development focus, build a meaningful development plan, and get GROWING!