By Tricia Kidd
There are moments at work that can mess with your head, kind of ‘unseat’ you, slightly niggle at your confidence, make you feel vaguely uneasy – or simply knock you down. One of those moments can be when you feel like either a ‘boring old incumbent’ or its opposite, the ‘cocky usurper’.
Enter the usurper
You were hired exactly because you have a new and different experience of company life. In your previous role, you developed skills that are much in demand in your new company. The people who hired you, are really excited about their new catch. They have high expectations of you and you have their full support. The trouble is, your peers and co-workers may not feel so enthusiastic. You came here with your new ways, but you know little of the business. You have so much enthusiasm, you know that this company can really benefit from this fresh perspective, and you are really ready to love everyone. But it’s a struggle. You don’t quite know enough people, you don’t know who is really on your side. There’s a kind of frustration, that you’re here to create a new world, but not enough people are responding.
Enter the boring incumbent
You have been in this business so long, it’s part of your DNA. Not only do you know millions of co-workers, you also know their children’s names and ages. Not only do you know the names of the company’s products, you know every detail of how they are made. The advantage that incumbents have, is that when they started in this business, they were relaxed and
young. Their responsibilities weren’t so great. They had time too make friends. The disadvantages are exactly from the same root. They will always be remembered for their youthful self, and just like family, their colleagues will refuse to take them too seriously.
Re-position yourself
Whether you are a boring incumbent or a cocky usurper, there are moments when you can feel totally out of place. Those are the moments when you need to re-position yourself. Take stock of which attributes are really important for your performance right now and which are just getting in your way. How would you feel if you were the other?
Boring incumbent, stop riding on your past, you are only as valuable as your performance today, don’t hold on to old baggage. Cocky usurper, take strength in the fact that your freshness is such an asset to the company and relax into the
family. You both belong.
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