Education is held in high regard in our society and rightly so. With constant education inflation in every professional field, employers asking for higher education, it pays more than ever to invest in education. Education certainly gives you an edge – a better launchpad, more flexibility in where you choose to work, however, education does not guarantee professional success. People who have ever worked in a job, any job, would relate and echo this sentiment. Real life skills are not taught in schools and colleges and can only be acquired by real world experience and observation.
I have faced this conundrum as a young professional myself as I started out in the corporate world. I found myself struggling while navigating various situations at work and without any prior experience. I used to be awed by seemingly confident and poised professionals around me who always knew the right things to say and write in any situation, resolve conflicts and juggle workplace issues with ease. I used to wonder where they learned to do that. I used to scour the internet for quick “tips”, hit “business” books and if I was lucky to interact with such professionals, I would pester them to mentor me.
Slowly and steadily, numerous stumbles and embarrassing goof-ups later, I started to gain some confidence in my ability to work with others. So, here I am, trying to help other working folks get better at working, from my experiences.
Guidance for thriving in the professional world 