Are You Staying Relevant or Becoming Obsolete?
March 22, 2016
By Brian Maynor
Did you know most mid-level and especially senior-level professionals worry about staying relevant more than anything else?
In a world where teams are becoming global, companies are downsizing and outsourcing to curb costs staying relevant is a big step in obtaining some peace of mind and job security. When I often work with clients in these positions they often don’t realize that not only their image, but also their careers have become stagnant, stale and one step closer to obsolete.
What does it mean to stay relevant, especially in a day that is full of consuming demands? The short answer is that you grow, change and adapt to the times. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to see where you stand:
1. How often do you feel in over your head? If you frequently feel overwhelmed or out-of-touch with advances or changes in your industry or even software then that’s a pretty good sign you need to make some major changes fast.
2. Are you fluent in current news and trends in your industry? This is not a big surprise that to stay relevant you need to not only be aware of what’s going on in your industry, but you need to be well versed in it and applying it to your current position. Knowledge without application is only half the battle.
3. Has your job actually changed over the years, or just your title? This is such a common occurrence in the professional world that many people don’t really think about it. They may get a raise with the new title, but if the job doesn’t change then they are able to stay in their small comfort zone.
The truth of the matter is easy jobs aren’t going to help you stay relevant. That requires constantly improving and learning new skills that often push, test and make you feel uncomfortable.
4. Do new team members often seem to have vastly different ideas from your own? One of the benefits of working for a long time in one area is that you garner a sense of expertise, but there is a downside to that if you let that expertise become a rigid framework you rarely work outside.
Don’t immediately discount new employees as having only things to learn and nothing to offer. Quite frequently they can offer a great deal, including insight into alternative and potentially more advanced ways of researching, problem solving, decision-making or general peer interactions.
5. Are most of your professional contacts diverse in age, industry, location, gender, race and background? If you tend to only associate with a single type of colleague, say people who are just like you, then you’re putting yourself at a huge disadvantage for maintaining current and relevant. Expanding your network will keep you in touch with various aspects of your industry on a personal level.
The sad news is that once you fear becoming obsolete chances are you have already become obsolete, but that doesn’t mean your career is over. You can become relevant again. It will just be very uncomfortable and challenging, so you have to make sure you’re up for it.
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I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
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