What I learned from Mr. Mark Bodily at Nortel

Continuing on from last week, I am happy to share another lesson from my Nortel days this week, but from Mr. Mark Bodily, who was the Sales Engineering leader for APAC and my manager at that time.

If you get hit by a Truck tomorrow?

Again, this is another annual review discussion. Mark was in India and he was discussing with me my performance ad that of my team. I had just taken up the role of Engineering Manager for India and was going through my first review. I was very hopeful of a favorable review as I had helped India grow significantly, had added team members, helped apply best practices from one account to another.

So I was not really expecting Mark to tell me that I have missed something. After discussing in detail my performance individually and team performance, I heard him say that if he had to pick the best team member it will be me. I was still beaming with pride, when he said, “But what will I do if you get hit by a Truck tomorrow?” It took me time to digest the statement, it was a dramatic way of telling me that I have failed to create a succession plan. That in case I decide to vacate the role because of anything, it will compromise the company. He further explained to me that if I needed to move to another role, lets us Marketing, he will find it difficult to relieve me, because he has no other alternative in the short run. He said, that since I was doing well, I may soon want another profile or growth and if I am not ready with a successor, my chances may well be hampered.

I sat with him then to plan a succession.

I hope that you do not need this warning and that you are ready and are working with someone in your team, or your peer group to develop them to take your place. Plan your succession, so that you can grow.

Next week, I will be back with another lesson. So stay tuned.