Response To Opportunities

Having coached professionals for so many years, I have seen many examples of how people respond to opportunities. Some rose to the occasion, while some allowed them to pass. How do you respond to opportunities?

Examples Of Responses

I’ve collected some examples of how people have responded to opportunities. While each have their own circumstances, they represent different approaches.

1. Create it. These professionals don’t wait for the opportunity; they initiate it. They embody the quote, “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” If what you really want isn’t available, forge a pathway that doesn’t exist.

I first met a senior staff and coached him through to his promotion of manager in the audit department. He was a valued member of the team, but his passion was in cyber security.  He consistently made it known and everyone agreed that he should pursue this service line, even though the firm didn’t have it.

However, he was continually sucked back into managing audit engagements. There was always an excuse that prevented the firm’s leaders to give him the commitment and bandwidth he needed and desperately wanted. Eventually, he left the firm for a position in cyber security. He is doing very well and happy, while the firm’s efforts to develop a cyber service line were set back for years because they couldn’t find a champion.

If you have a passion, take the initiative and shake the tree a bit. Let your leaders know of your interest and work with them to create a transition plan.

2. Seize it. These professionals accept the big challenges, even though they may be beyond their capability or experience. For example, a partner was hospitalized and a senior stepped in and took over a large, complex client project. Even though he had limited experience with the client, he reached out and sought the advice and guidance of others. He organized the engagement, coordinated multiple outside consultants, communicated effectively to keep everyone informed and moved the engagement forward to a successful conclusion. Needless to say, the returning partner was truly amazed at what was accomplished.
3. Delay it. Too many professionals respond to opportunities this way. They may feel too unprepared or lack the confidence to step up. Or they don’t want the responsibility, or don’t want to put forth the effort to learn and grow quickly.

I see this mostly when professionals are promoted to the next level but continue to function they way they always did. Too many firm leaders promote people to manager or principal but don’t prepare or equip them to fill their new roles. Therefore, the recently promoted ones don’t equip, delegate or empower others to take over what they used to do. They continue doing it themselves and firm leaders allow it to happen.

As a result, they function as they did before and don’t have the time to learn their new role and function. If you are in this situation, you would do well to follow the path of those who create or seize opportunities. Take the initiative, ask for help, and get over the fear that you may show that you don’t know.

As a professional, which approach do you tend to follow? There are more opportunities for professionals today than ever before. How will you respond?