Daily Mood Quotes
Day 220 – December 12, 2011
“A system is a network of interdependent components that work together to try to accomplish the aim of the system. A system must have an aim. Without the aim, there is no system.”
~W. Edwards Deming
Now all we need to do is add an “ing” to the word network and the connotation changes. A recent conversation with a friend reminded me “that it isn't what you know, but who you know. You have to network, networking is how people get jobs.” Okay, can someone tell why I have spent nearly six years in college to earn a Bachelor's and Master's Degrees? Should I drop out now? Or, maybe I should change my major to include classes like, butt-kissing-101, how to schmooze your abusive boss-201, or, how to get a raise by learning to play golf-301. Tell me my friends what is broken about this “system?”
So it follows, that the best people for the job, apparently aren't the ones getting the jobs. So, why are there still colleges around, if getting a job is based on who you know and not what you know? I don't know about you, but this depresses me...aaalotttt (thank you Peanut from Jeff Dunham). I understand that people need to have good communications skills and it certainly never hurts to “play well with others.” But apparently getting work is based on being somebody’s brother's cousin's niece's second aunt's sorority friend's best buddy, or something like that. That's six degrees of separation I wish were seven! I would like to know, when did networking take the place of actual knowledge, skill and experience? As for me, my experiences in networking have all too often turned my stomach, because it requires people (especially where I live) to go out after work and drink with others they work with. And to quote Bartok the bat from the animated movie Anastasia “This can only end in tears!” A lot of gossip occurs in these outings and that's not something I want to be a part of, in the business world, or in any other part of my life. Gossip is corrosive-period. I have seen too many people's careers and lives destroyed, because of something they said or did, under the influence of alcohol. Even if you don't drink, things you say are often twisted against you in these scenarios. It's simply not worth it. There is an old saying, “With friends like “that” who needs enemies?” I guess when you have been stabbed in the back a few times, you have a cautious wall between you and unpleasant networking “opportunities.” The point is that if everyone is networking and working the system when the heck is anything useful getting done? Kind of explains one reason for a sagging economy... don't it?
So, let's talk about social networking via the internet. I belong to a few social network sites; Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and they too have their pros and cons. First the pros; if you have something to say, you get the opportunity to say it without interruptions (that's another blog for later), and you have a hard copy of what you said, so if your words would ever be twisted, you have the proof you need (sad we need to think like that). And it lets people connect with others with similar interests and even old friends. That's great and I am grateful for that. On the con side; it also opens you up to bullying, and online attacks, and everything you say online can end up as public record, to use as ammunition against you by random people, human resources departments and even potential vendors and lenders. Plus, there is the ever present specter of identity theft. Additionally, I have found that many human resources managers and executives hide behind the digital wall to exclude quality candidates from positions they are eminently qualified for, except for when they are someone's brother's, sister's cousin's niece’s nephew, who is looking for a job. Oooops sorry, that only happens here. Best to tread lightly through the digital minefield.
The point is, if we do not begin to assess people by what they know and how much they care, we run the risk of being at the mercy of people who may network great, but can't, or won't work worth a darn. Wrong skill set. Wrong attitude often leads to lost profits and high turnover. Erica Albright (played by Rooney Mara) said it best when she said to Mark Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg) in the Movie The Social Network, “I'm sorry you are not sufficiently impressed with my education.” I guess I just don't get it. Hiring a “network friend” is like hiring family, it's just bad business. Didn't former President George W. Bush hire many of his friends? See where that got us! Hmmm, enough said.
How will you view networking today?
Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote
Thank you for reading
