What Size Pond Do You Prefer?
Sound like a weird question? It is a metaphor I often use when asking clients what size company they enjoy working in? This is an important question when dreaming about the possibilities of your career.
It is a personal preference, and you should try all sizes. Still, eventually, most professionals find a company size that they feel most comfortable working in for one reason or another.
Not sure what size pond you prefer? Here are some pros and cons to working in each size company.
Large organizations are great because they offer so many different career paths. The further you progress in your career, the more opportunities you have to lead large teams and work cross-functionally with departments that may not exist in other companies. But, being a great leader is important, or your team may feel like a number and get lost in the crowd.
It is easier for your teams to be recognized in a medium-sized organization than a larger...
Every Job has a Little Dysfunction
Some of my most interesting work conversations are with friends, colleagues, and clients who have had a rough day at work. They are ready to flee for various reasons. They think their boss doesn't like them. They are overworked, underappreciated, behind on a project, or not enjoying their job as much as they had previously.
And then I remind them, everybody has dysfunction at work.
You know, that small part of the culture that is thinly veiled on Glassdoor. During the interview, when you asked about it, they glossed over it with a generic answer. Then when you left the interview, you wondered if you should be concerned (there is always a little truth to it, but remember it may not be the full story).
Here are a few examples of the dysfunction you may experience on a bad day:
- Frustration with an always-busy culture, but they can't finish one project
- Exhausted from over collaboration - 74 people must sign off to move forward
- Extra work from...
