unit 4: the contributor’s vision of career · from acquisitive career to contributive career the...

From Acquisitive Career to Contributive Career

The Contributor’s Vision of Career

UNIT 4:

Swami Vivekananda

Contributor Personality Program

An Group Initiative

by

for students and faculty of Gujarat Technological University

University Servicesi-become

JULY 2012 BATCH

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COPYRIGHT DECLARATION

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Learn to distinguish between an “acquisitive career” and a

“contributive career”.

An acquisitive career is one in which the career-seeker is

focused on acquiring higher position, higher salary, more

benefits, etc. This preoccupation with selfish interests often

damages the individual’s career, and equally important,

damages the organization and society. A contributive career is

one where the career-seeker is focused on contributing, with

rewards being a by-product of the contributions made.

The Contributor’s Vision of Career

4.1 Exploring the Contributor’s Vision of Career pg. 2-5

4.2 Workplace application 1 pg. 6-7

4.3 Workplace application 2 pg. 8



4.6 Project Work pg. 11

What you can do next pg. 12

Swami Vivekananda speaks to you: Your career is an opportunity to make a huge difference to yourself and to the world at large pg. 13-14

UNIT 4:

Developing a Contributor Personality

UNIT 4: THE CONTRIBUTOR’S VISION OF CAREER

© JULY 2012 EDITION; ILLUMINE KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES PVT LTD; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DEVELOPED BY ILLUMINE FOR THE I-BECOME INITIATIVE

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This Non-contributor Job Applicant chooses a job only based on the monetary rewards and material benefits it offers. Result – just because the money is good, she may end up taking a job where the quality of work does not match up to her competence level or a job that is not aligned to her overall professional development.

This Non-contributor Worker wants to work only in areas she is comfortable in. She is afraid of doing any new jobs and is not interested in doing anything beyond her specific job description. Result – she gets stuck in the same kind of work, same kinds of roles, same kinds of jobs. Soon her work becomes routine and boring.

This Non-contributor Technician is willing to work only in the specific domain in which he is trained. Thus, even if new assignments or good job opportunities come up in an area that requires other skills, he does not take them up. Result – he misses many opportunities. Even in his own projects his contribution is limited because he will not do anything beyond his own domain of training, even if it is needed.

This Contributor Job Applicant chooses a job based on the opportunities it is likely to open up to her. Thus the job she takes up will be a positive step forward in her overall professional development and will benefit her career in the long-run. Even if she starts out on a lower salary, her future career development is ensured.

This Contributor Worker is always eager to try out new kinds of work and is interested to learn new skills and gain new knowledge. Thus, he volunteers for new roles and responsibilities. He keeps finding new things to do and new ways to do his existing work better. Result – his work is always fresh and exciting.

This Contributor Technician is willing to learn whatever is necessary, get help wherever needed, and do whatever it takes to serve the purpose in any job. Thus, if a project or assignment is given to him, he will ensure it gets accomplished successfully – whether it is in his domain of training or not.

continued ...1 acquisitive: eager to get / demand / grab things for oneself 2 contributive: eager to give / contribute value for others

Does this job offer – – High salary and perks?– Holidays?– Incentives?

“I can only work in the field that I have been trained in.”

I can do some things well. Don’t ask me to do new things. That is not part of my job description. I won’t do it.

Does this job offer – – Opportunities to face new

challenges & develop new skills?– Opportunities to meet new

people & learn new things?– Opportunities to make a

difference?

I will learn whatever is needed to perform well in my role, and help my team / organization achieve its goals.

I believe that one must be willing to step out of one’s comfort zone and try out newer roles. This will expand not only my skill-set, but also my self-esteem and confidence.

Study the following examples

1.

2.

3.

The Non-contributor Job Applicant with an “acquisitive1 vision of career”

The Non-contributor Technician with an “acquisitive1 vision of career”

The Non-contributor Worker with an “acquisitive1 vision of career”

The Contributor Job Applicant with a “contributive2 vision of career”

The Contributor Technician with a “contributive2 vision of career”

The Contributor Worker with a “contributive2 vision of career”

4.1 Exploring the Contributor’s Vision of Career[CONCEPT EXPLORATION]

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA CONTRIBUTOR PERSONALITY PROGRAM FOR GTU – JULY 2012 BATCH


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continued’...

This Non-contributor Executive seeks to advance his career by getting more money, more power, more position. If he doesn’t see such external growth in his career, he begins feeling that he has achieved nothing – thus he is willing to use any means (positive or negative) to advance his career. Result – he may manage to get a promotion, but he won’t be worthy of it and will do a poor job in the new position.

This Contributor Executive seeks to make wider and deeper contributions to the lives of more and more people, as his career advances. For this, he also increases in expertise, develops capabilities, takes on more responsibilities, etc. Result – when there is a vacancy in a higher position, he will be the person most worthy to fill it.

“Being promoted means I need to also build my capability, leadership skills, etc. so that I can contribute even more in the bigger position.”

4. The Non-contributor Executive with an “acquisitive1 vision of career”

The Contributor Executive with a “contributive2 vision of career”

“Career advancement means more money, more power,

more position.”

Group Worksheet 4.1:Similarly (in the same way as examples 1-4 shown above), imagine the following situations and how the non-contributors (with an “acquisitive vision of career”) and contributors (with a “contributive vision of career”) would behave. Discuss to fill in.

continued ...

Paresh has been elected to the student council

If Paresh had an acquisitive vision of career,

he would think...

Imagine how Paresh would think if he had a

contributive vision of career…

Yeah! I have finally got this important position! This will be one more achievement that will look good on my resume…

5.

Describe the above acquisitive vision of career – Describe the above contributive vision of career –



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This is not fair! Just because I am a volunteer how can they ask me to do something I am not comfortable with! They can’t force me to do this… I will tell them I will do something else, not this.

This is a respected position and it means that the teacher believes I am better than the others - so that is good! I must further use this as an opportunity to get noticed by teachers and students so that when I stand for elections next year, they will all vote for me!

continued ...3 mentor: guide / tutor

Shilpa has been assigned as a mentor3 in a group where she is supposed to teach two weaker students from her class and help them in their studies.

If Hetal had an acquisitive vision of career,

she would think...

If Shilpa had an acquisitive vision of career,

she would think...

Imagine how Hetal would think if she had a

contributive vision of career…

Imagine how Shilpa would think if she had a

contributive vision of career…...

During her summer vacation, Hetal volunteers to work in the Cancer Association. They tell her to go out and meet companies to find sponsors – something she has never done before. She is nervous because she is a shy person and is not comfortable communicating with strangers.

6.

7.

Describe the above acquisitive vision of career –

Describe the above acquisitive vision of career –

Describe the above contributive vision of career –

Describe the above contributive vision of career –



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If Sheetal and Priya had an acquisitive vision of

career, they would think...

Imagine how Sheetal and Priya would think if

they had a contributive vision of career…

Oh no! What do we do now? Without Rekha, we won’t be able to present! Neither of us are good presenters. We will have to withdraw our entry from this competition and tell them we cannot present.

... continued

Reflection: People with a contributive vision of career are likely to have more sustainable4 growth in their career, than people with an acquisitive vision of career. Would you agree? Why?

Explore more on the contributor’s wider vision of career, on the i-become

AND MORE ...

C1: What is the difference between an acquisitive career mindset and a

contributive career mindset?

C2: Contributors have the inner power to deliver

[Log into your account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ and select Unit 4: The Contributor’s Vision of Career Foundation Concept Exploration]

4 sustainable: long-lasting / balanced / steady

Sheetal, Priya and Rekha are making a presentation together. Sheetal (a good writer) focuses on drafting the presentation. Priya (an artist) focuses on packaging it creatively. Rekha is a good communicator, so they decide she will present (especially since Sheetal is shy and Priya is not very comfortable with English). They work together happily and build a good presentation. Unfortunately, on the final presentation day, Rekha falls seriously ill…

8.

Describe the above acquisitive vision of career – Describe the above contributive vision of career –



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Group Worksheet 4.2:

How do I create opportunities for growth in my career?

PART A: Study the following story, noticing how Downes created “growth opportunities” for his career in each situation –

General Motors (GM) is an American multinational automotive corporation, and is today the world’s second-largest automaker. It produces cars and trucks in 31 countries, including brands such as Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Opel, Vauxhall.

CAROL DOWNES

Late one evening, William C. Durant, the founder of General Motors (GM), walked into his bank after banking hours, and asked for some work to be done, which ideally should have been requested during banking hours.

While others did not take the trouble to serve him, the man who served Mr. Durant after banking hours was Carol Downes, an executive of the bank.

Downes had created a “growth opportunity” for himself by serving his customer well.

The next day, William Durant asked Downes to come to his office. Mr. Durant offered Downes a position in his office which was happily accepted by Downes.

Several months later, Downes was informed that he had been chosen to go out to a new plant to supervise the installation of the plant machinery. Thus, Downes, a former bank official, became a machinery expert in a few months. Although he did not know anything about installation of machinery, Downes chose to accept the assignment happily, rather than complaining about it.

Downes had created one more “growth opportunity” by whole-heartedly accepting a challenge.

Three months later, the job was done so well that Mr. Durant asked him where he learned about machinery. “I never learned, Mr. Durant. I merely found men who knew how to do the job, put them to work, and they did it.” Downes explained. Mr. Durant told Downes that he was promoted as the new manager of the plant and his salary to start with would be $50,000 a year.

Downes had created one more growth opportunity by not only succeeding in his assignment, but also sharing credit and focusing on his role as a contributive-manager.

4.2 Workplace application 1[CONCEPT APPLICATION]

ROLE MODEL



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PART B: Think of any one person who, like Downes, created growth opportunities in his / her career. Write about this person by filling in the following worksheet (Use Downes’ story to guide you).

Name of the person:

Profession / Career path of the person:

Incidents in the person’s career journey: How s/he created a “growth opportunity” for his / her career in this incident

Incident 1:

Incident 2:

Incident 3:

What I learnt about how to create opportunities for growth in my own career:

AND MORE ...

[Log into your account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ and select Unit 4: The Contributor’s Vision of Career Foundation Concept Applications]

A1: SIR MOKSHAGUNDAM VISVESVARAYA

The Engineer who rose up to become one of the builders of modern India

A2: ANJALI, THE TEACHER

A Teacher who kept challenging herself to make greater and greater contribution

A3: BADAM DEVI

An illiterate agricultural laborer who made herself into a change-making sarpanch of

her village

On explore how these contributors created growth opportunities in their career:i-become



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If the company I work in changes my job role, how should I respond?

PART A: Study the following scenario & discuss to answer the reflection question

A large technology corporation is diversifying and entering new markets. The management is identifying people to send to Singapore, where they are setting up operations. Since the new office will begin small, the team going there would have to multi-task. The management is considering two bright software engineers – Mohit and Sumit. Both are good programmers. The management observes them for some time, so that they can decide who to select. This is what they see –

MOHIT’s career strategy is based on an acquisitive vision of career

SUMIT’s career strategy is based on a contributive vision of career

Consequences of MOHIT’s career strategy based on an acquisitive vision of career

Consequences of SUMIT’s career strategy is based on a contributive vision of career

Mohit does not do anything which is beyond his stated job description of a software engineer. He says…

Sumit is flexible and is quickly able to adapt to new assignments. He says…

Why should I do anything extra?

I am a software engineer… I am good at my job – but this is not my

job…

Why not? Sure… let me try my hand at it, I am sure I can pick

it up.

Every job has its challenges – unless you try it out, how will you know how well you can do it and whether you like it or not? This way you can really learn a lot!

Reflection: Who would the company prefer to choose for any important assignment?

Why?

PART B: What are the consequences of each career strategy? Discuss to fill in below –

How will this career strategy impact his organization? How valuable will Mohit become for them?

How will this career strategy impact his organization? How valuable will Sumit become for them?

How will this impact his future career prospects? How will this impact his future career prospects?

Technologies continuously become outdated and get replaced by newer ones. In such a fast-changing industry, who will be able to deal with the changes in a better way? Why?


SCENARIO



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Group Worksheet 3.2: PART A


How do I choose between job assignment opportunities?

PART A: Study the following scenario & discuss to answer the reflection question

Reflection: Suraj makes a choice out “fear” (fear of losing reputation, fear of failure). On

the other hand, Varun focuses on the opportunity each job assignment could give. What

is the value of adopting Varun’s career approach in your own life?

PART B: Though both are in the same job environment, more career opportunities are likely to

open up to Varun. Discuss to give 3 reasons why.

Suraj and Varun joined a pharmaceutical company, fresh out of college. 6 months into the job, they are given a choice to take up any one of two assignments –

– The first assignment is a mainstream project with a 1 month deadline. It is in their own domain that they are familiar with. The team would be 8-10 people, with several senior team members. Working on a large project such as this, will bring the team in the limelight.

– The second assignment is in a new cutting-edge area that the organization is experimenting in. They will be in a team of 3-4 who need to find their own answers and make things work. The organization gives the team 4 months, after which they will take a decision whether to invest into this area or not.

This is how they are thinking through this choice.

SURAJ - THE NON-CONTRIBUTOR VARUN - THE CONTRIBUTOR

The second assignment is too risky! I have never done anything like this before… It is not my subject and I won’t know anything there. The management will get a bad impression of me.

The first assignment is safer. I know that work… besides there will be others in the team who can tell me what to do if needed. Also, being mainstream, it will give me the experience to get a job in the future.

In the first assignment, I can learn a lot from the expertise of my seniors. I will also learn how such large projects work – that is very good exposure.

However, the second, is a rare opportunity to do cutting-edge work. We will find our way to the answers… we will learn and do whatever it takes! If we succeed, the value to the organization and to the field will be fundamental! If we don’t, I will at least have learnt from the experience…

HINT: Consider –

– How will this affect their confidence and ability to take up new responsibilities and challenging assignments?

– What will be the long-term impact on their overall development as professionals?

– Growth opportunities for your career can be seen in every situation. How would their thinking affect their ability to see / be blind to several such opportunities?

– Who would be seen more favorably by the organization?

The first assignment is safer. I know that work… besides, there will be others in the team who can tell me what to do if needed. Also, being mainstream, it will give me the experience to get a job in the future.


SCENARIO



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When assessing a job, what should I look for?

PART A: Study the following scenario –

PART B: To help you make a job choice in your own career, think about and write down –

(a) 3 “non-negotiable” criteria that you will use (what you want the job to definitely have)

(b) 2 “negotiable” criteria that you will use (what you hope the job will have, but are willing to

sacrifice, if you like the job). Write these in order of priority.

CHECK: Are your criteria based on a Contributive Vision of Career?

Ajay and Raghu have a couple of job offers on hand. They are trying to decide which job to take up. These are the questions each of them ask the manager, to help them take a decision.

AJAY’s career strategy is based on an acquisitive vision of career

(a) I want the job to definitely fulfill these criteria

(b) I hope the job fulfills these criteria (but I am willing to sacrifice these, provided I really like the job)

RAGHU’s career strategy is based on a contributive vision of career

Will I get all the comforts and conveniences

I want?

Does this job and the contribution I can make

here, excite me?

What is the pay package? Will I get a team to work under me? Will I have to

stay late often? Will I get compensated for working

over-time?

What kind of work will I actually be doing? What are the typical

responsibilities? What are typical challenges?

Some examples –

– Is the work something I will enjoy and be good at?

– Will they train me?

– Does the company have a good brand image?

– Will I get a comfortable lifestyle?

– What difference can I make in the world, through this job?

– What are the learning opportunities?

– Will I get a chance to apply my training?

– Etc.

# 1

# 2

# 3

# 4

# 5


SCENARIO



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Field Work

You could do the above project and present in the classOR ask your faculty for the IN-CLASS PROJECT based on the guideline from i-become

4.6 Project Work

Project Goal: To learn “Contributor Career Strategies5” from an experienced contributor.

STEP 1: Identify any one “Contributor” you know, who has worked for at least 10 years, and who has contributed a lot during the course of his / her career.

[HINT: Think of who you can interview amongst – People known to your family, Colleagues of your

parents, Neighbors,Teachers, People who work in your neighborhood (eg: postman, shopkeepers, fruit /

vegetable seller, rickshawdriver, municipality workers, etc.)]

STEP 2: Interview this person, asking him / her to tell you about –

l The different roles s/he has performed throughout his / her career life.l How s/he developed and moved up in his / her career. What were the important milestones6

in his / her career.l For each of the new roles or assignments taken up, what new capabilities did s/he have to build

(so as to be able to fulfill the new responsibilities).l What were some of the most important career choices that s/he made. How s/he thought about

these choices. What made him / her make these choices.l What were some of the most important “contributions” s/he feels s/he made in each of his / her

roles in the career.

STEP 3: Make a presentation on this person –

l Explain how the person answered each of the above questions.l What are some “Contributor Career Strategies5” that you can learn from this person’s

experience?

5 Career Strategy is an approach or tip or plan of action that you can use in your own career to improve / grow in your own career (as a contributor). 6 Milestone is an important point in the career where s/he took some important decisions / choices; or there was an important change that took

place in his / her career track; or some important new assignment that s/he took up.



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What you can do next:

Practice for Examinations on i-become

• Do the quizzes and practice tests to get an idea of what to expect in the examination.

• Toaccessthese– – Log into your ActivGuide account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ – Select Unit 4: The Contributor’s Vision of Career Exam Revision

Attend the Contributor Classroom for Unit 4 (on Facebook )

• 2onlinediscussionsessionswillbeconductedforUnit4,intheContributorClassroom.Onewillexplore the “contributor’s vision of career” and how it impacts your ability to contribute. The other will discuss workplace examples and career guides.

• JoinstudentsandfacultyfromacrossGTUaswediscussthistopic.

• Toparticipate–

– Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/CPP.July2012/

– Log in with your own Facebook account (if you don’t have one already, create new)

– Click on “join group” button to join the Contributor Classroom

– Once the group moderator approves, you can attend these discussions

– Make sure you register early enough so that you don’t miss these sessions

• Toknowtheschedulesforthis,checkyouremail/thei-becomeFacebookpage https://www.facebook.com/ibecomeInitiative

AND MORE ...

[Log into your account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ and select Unit 4: The Contributor’s Vision of Career Foundation Concept Applications]

Learn some more career strategies from contributors, on i-become

A4: CAREER STRATEGY:ROLE FLEXIBILITY

The story of Vinod the copywriter

A5: WHAT KIND OF “OPPORTUNITIES” DO YOU LOOK FOR?

Learn the contributor’s strategy from the story of

these 2 teachers

A6: HOW TO GET A PROMOTION?

Learn the contributor’s strategy from the story of

these 2 corporate managers

A7: CAREER STORY OF C. V. RAMAN (SCIENTIST)



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“

This is the time to decide your future – while you possess the energy of youth, not when you are worn out and jaded, but in the freshness and vigour of youth. Rouse yourselves, therefore, or life is short. There are greater works to be done than aspiring to become lawyers and picking quarrels and such things. A far greater work is this sacrifice of yourselves for the benefit of your race, for the welfare of humanity.

Within you lies indomitable power. Only thinking, “I am nothing, I am nothing”, you have become powerless. And what are you doing? Even after learning so much, you go about the doors of others, crying, “Give me employment”. Trampled under others’ feet doing slavery for others, are you men any more? You are not worth a pin’s head!

You are thinking yourselves highly educated. What nonsense have you learnt? Getting by heart the thoughts of others in a foreign language, and stuffing your brain with them and taking some university degrees, you consider yourselves educated! Fie upon you! Is this education? What is the goal of your education? Either a clerkship, or being a roguish lawyer, or at the most a Deputy Magistracy, which is another form of clerkship – isn’t that all? Open your eyes and see what a piteous cry for food is rising in the land of Bharata, proverbial for its wealth! Will your education fulfil this want? Never. With the help of Western science set yourselves to dig the earth and produce food-stuffs – not by means of mean servitude of others – but by discovering new avenues to production, by your own exertions aided by Western science.

Your career is an opportunity to make a huge difference to yourself and to the world at large

Swami Vivekananda believed that “career” does not mean begging for employment or seeking to be gainfully occupied. To him, “career” meant an opportunity for each one of us to embark upon a glorius journey of mighty contribution - to oneself, to our community, to our nation, and even to the world at large.

“

“

Swami Vivekananda speaks to you



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Swami Vivekananda at Limbdi

Swami Vivekananda then met Thakore Saheb of Limbdi, Sir

Yashwantsinhji, K.C.I.E, (b.1859, d.1907).

Apart from being an able administrator, Yashwantsinhji was

deeply spiritual and a highly learned and cultured prince with

deep interest in literature, religion and philosophy.

His contact with Swami Vivekananda brought about a great

transformation in Yashwantsinhji and he became Vivekananda’s

disciple.

He also had an opportunity to be in Swami Vivekananda’s

holy company for several days during the summer of 1892 at

Mahabaleshwar. Here they had several discussions on Shastras

which he has recorded in his ‘Nondh Pothi’ (diary).

On May 9, 1892 Thakore Saheb has noted: “I am pleasantly

surprised at Swami Vivekananda’s deep knowledge of the

Shastras. My knowledge of the Shastras has been much

increased through discussions with him .”

Source: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda(Published by Advaita Ashrama, 5 Dehi Entally Road, Kolkata 14, India)

Source: Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot, website (www.rkmrajkot.org)

“

What India wants is a new electric fire to stir up a fresh vigour in the national veins. This was ever, and always will be, slow work. Be content to work, and, above all, be true to yourself. Be pure, staunch, and sincere to the very backbone, and everything will be all right.

We must travel, we must go to foreign parts. We must see how the engine of society works in other countries, and keep free and open communication with what is going on in the minds of other nations, if we really want to be a nation again. Stand on your own feet, and assimilate what you can; learn from every nation, take what is of use to you.

“

“Believe, therefore, in yourselves, and if you want material wealth, work it out; it will come to you. If you want to be intellectual, work it out on the intellectual plane, and intellectual giants you shall be.

The material in this workbook is meant to be studied along with the material available at gtu.ibecome.in

You will find videos, concept presentations, quizzes to improve your understanding of the topic.

Workbook printed from I-Become ActivGuide

unit 4: the contributor’s vision of career · from acquisitive career to contributive career the...

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