Here I come to save the day!
You may remember that proclamation, sung by the cartoon character Mighty Mouse. In one episode, the opera-singing rodent transformed into the caped superhero by hopping from vitamin A through Z, consuming pills from each lined-up jar and emerging with his mouse superpowers. As a kid watching this stuff, I thought, “Ahh! So that’s how it’s done!”
In the produce aisle or anywhere in business, I’ve seen people who view a potential promotion for themselves to happen in much the same way.
In fact, some are even of the mindset that a potential next-grade position isn’t just a possibility, but that they’re entitled and fully expect to get the job. As in the Mighty Mouse image, they believe that they have touched all the necessary bases, however briefly.
Of course, they’re kidding themselves.
Most businesses, including those in the fresh produce industry, don’t just hand out lucrative positions. Though it may seem that some people are elevated with ease (and indeed, some are), the mantra of “Life isn’t fair” looms large; it only sets a person up for disappointment if they hold onto their entitled mindset when approaching a job promotion. Some of the brash, overconfident statements I’ve heard are:
• I’m next in line — No. You may be in line, but so are a dozen other candidates. Next in line only counts for something if you’re ordering fast food. If you say this in business, your chances dim, and you could very well find yourself in the back of the line without even realizing it.
• I have the most seniority — Seniority comes in handy in many circumstances, especially for possible pay raises and for certain privileges, such as increased vacation time. Just because you began working at a given point in time, doesn't necessarily mean, well, anything. It’s a factor, all right, but not necessarily the factor when an organization promotes someone.
• I check all the right boxes — I think this one is ill-placed, however, it’s a factor I’d be remiss not to mention. In a world rife with peculiar variables, most organizations are still compelled to make steely-eyed promotion decisions based on merit, lest that organization become weaker. The reality is that “checking all the boxes” (or who you know) may help get your foot in the door, but what you know will keep you there.
Related: More insight from Armand Lobato
• I have all the qualifications — Says you. Qualifications are set by management, and too often some of the required qualifications are glossed over in the mind of the overconfident candidate. The truth is that, in most cases, you must pay the dues. Otherwise you run the risk of not earning the respect of your upcoming subordinates and, frankly, you are doomed to struggle or even fail without the benefit of having served on most (if not all) rungs of the corporate ladder for a meaningful amount of time along the way.
• So-and-so got this job after the same amount of time as me — Everyone is different in their business ascent. Look at so-and-so’s past. Did they earn the necessary qualifications along the way? Did they manage teams? What were their responsibilities before coming here? Time (and timing) alone isn’t always enough. Comedian Jeff Dunham famously said, “It’s better to be 10 years too late than one day too early,” when it comes to being ready (or not) for a big role.
• I have the necessary education — The produce industry is a mixed bag of the higher-educated and equivalent-experienced. It’s great to have a blend, of course, but touting just one or the other doesn’t entitle a person to a promotion. It’s just another set of factors, and companies look closely at the person distilled from the experience-education balance. A wise person once said, “The truly educated are those who never stop learning.”
So, what is the factor? What is the je ne sais quoi or the special or appealing quality that sets a candidate apart from the pack when it comes to a possible hiring or promotion within an organization? That’s hard to say.
In sports, it could be the matrix of speed, size and strength. But many who have met these measurements turn out to be busts, while other times it’s the successful undrafted player or walk-on that baffles the so-called experts.
In retrospect, a healthy dose of humility is in order. Of course, when a person is motivated to seek out the next level — to be a buyer, a specialist, a category manager, a produce director, etc. — it’s a natural and encouraging sign, and it’s a positive to express confidence and a willingness to do the job.
There are more factors, however, the best candidates I’ve seen over the years genuinely humble themselves. They never insist, “I’m entitled to this job!” Instead, they say, “I’m interested in applying, and will be honored if I am considered.”
Lay down your cards and, you know, see what happens.
“The rules for work are changing. We’re being judged by a new yardstick: not just by how smart we are or by our training and experience, but also how well we handle ourselves and each other.” — Daniel Goldman, author of Emotional Intelligence
Armand Lobato works for the Idaho Potato Commission. His 40 years of experience in the produce business span a range of foodservice and retail positions.