Broadly speaking, our life can be divided into two parts:

1) Personal, Private or Family Life and

2) Career or Professional Life

Each of the above two can be further divided into different stages. The various stages of Private Life are: Infant, Child, Adolescent, and Adult (Husband / Wife), Parents, Feeder / Earner / Developer and Counselor / Guide / Mentor. Similarly, in a professional life, the different stages that we can have are: Trainee (Learner); 1st Level Executer; 1st Level Administrator / Organizer (Team Leader); Manager; Strategist; Chief Executor (CEO); Chief Administrator (CAO or COO); Corporate / Industry/ Business Leader; Coach; Mentor. In both the situations, it is very difficult to move from one stage (or role) to another; one needs to be mentally, emotionally and psychologically prepared for it. It is only due to the insecurity of an individual, his or her inefficiency to move to another role that we usually see people in the role of Patriarch and BOSS. For the purpose of this article, we will be concentrating only on the different stages of Professional Life.

Different Stages of Your Professional Life

1) Trainee (Learner): This is the beginning of your career. Usually it comprises 2-3 years. During this phase, the individual learns about the expectations of his profession and expected corporate behavior. You learn about the practical aspects and implementation processes of the theory that you have learned in your graduation, post-graduations and during your management studies. This phase also gives you an opportunity to select the "Domain" within your profession that you want to "specialize in"/ Grow/ and become expert in.

2) 1st Level Executer: To some extant this phase might overlap with your previous phase. In this phase, you get inputs from different sections and you are asked to implement that process and then follow-up. It is like this, your reporting manager or your department head has initiated some policy or process and it is your responsibility to make sure that the policy and process is followed by everyone. You need to follow-up with the people on the floor or at the bottom end. You are also expected to "teach the employees" and make them aware about the processes and procedures, its purpose, impact, regards and punishment. During this phase you need to work very closely with your Reporting Manager and take his inputs and at the same time need to make your own identity. You need to take your decisions through your Reporting Manager. Here, you are process owner. Based on your efficiency, willingness to learn and grow, this phase might last for 2-3 years.

3) 1st Level Administrator / Organizer (Team Leader): Now, that you know the practical aspects of your profession, you have selected a domain with in your selected profession that you like to master and specialize in; you know the nitty-gritty of your domain…now its time to take bigger responsibilities and accountabilities; now, its time to take responsibility of a small team, small but solo and independent assignments and projects. In this phase you get accustomed to resource management. You get to know as how to run the show on your own.

4) Manager: In this phase, the area and scope of your work increases. You become accountable of 2-3 different but bigger projects / assignments. You are expected to manage following things: People Management (and Development); Infrastructure / Resource Management; Cash Management; Revenue and Profitability Management; and Statutory Compliance. Usually, a person stays in this role for 7-10 years.

5) Strategist: Now, you have lots of experience, knowledge and expertise. At this stage, you need to be a great planner, goal setter, creative, developer and innovative. Its time for you to align your domain with the core business. You need to smoothen the functioning of your domain. In this role, you work as a catalyst and as a facilitator. This is not a field job. Most of the time, people around you might not be able to understand, as what you are doing. This role expects a lot of mental strength, expertise of domain and understanding of the functioning of different industries.

6) Chief Executor (CEO): Just like the way we discussed the role of 1st Level Executor (who is a process owner); the role of Chief Executor is to execute the policies, process, strategies formulated and approved by the "Board of Directors". He is the person who makes the "Corporate Culture" and "Workplace Ethics" for the organization. He is accountable for "workplace practices" that are practiced in the organization.

7) Chief Administrator (CAO or COO): You understand the basics of business; nitty-gritty of the business; people management; Cash, Revenue and profitability management, now its time to handle that at corporate level. As a chief administrator, you are accountable for one particular SBU or vertical or nation (if your company is very huge with millions of people, spread over N number of nations. It is your responsibility to generate revenues and profits. It is for you to plan Business Model for your Business and break-through for the success of your business.

8) Corporate / Industry/ Business/ Domain Leader: Now, its time to take a bigger leap. You have done enough for your team, your department, your domain, your company and your vertical / strategic unit. From now onwards whatever you do, will affect the Industry as a whole. You will be a trend setter in your profession / domain. You will be a LEADER.

9) Coach: Now, that you have gained lots of experience and knowledge and you are at that stage of your life, where you need to create many more people like you. Its time to pass your knowledge and experience to youngsters and create more people, Managers and leaders like you. Here, your role is to develop and groom young talent. You are a catalyst.

10) Mentor: Last, but not the least, after spending 40-45 years in an active "professional Life" now, its time to take a back seat and let the youngsters grow. Now, your role is that of a torch-bearer; guide; light-house; and pole-star. You are in a position where you can develop life of youngsters.

So, that's in short is the professional life-span of any individual, irrespective to selected profession and domain. It spans from a trainee to mentor.

Conclusion

In order to move from one phase of your profession to another phase, one needs to be mentally and psychologically prepared. One need to know when is the time to move to another level. This also shows that irrespective of your profession HR, Marketing, Technical or Finance…one is capable of being and should be in all the phases of profession. It is only then when we are not confident about our abilities, or we are so comfortable with our present role and position that we don't want to move out of that zone…that we behave like a BOSS. Bossism is nothing but forcing your views or ideas ONLY on your SUBORDINATES. They have NO SCOPE to Grow and Learn. Learn, grow and blossom in your profession. Life is short and sky is the limit.

Now, you are in which phase of your professional life???

Life is wonderful, if you believe that.

This world is beautiful, if you feel that.

Looking forward to your views and feedback

Regards