What would it take to cross from junior-level to senior management? How long would I remain at the bottom of the food chain? Yes, there is the experience factor, but how can I expedite my career growth. These and many more questions plagued my mind as I sat for lunch. “Udoh!” my colleague yelled, as I had not touched my meal for the first five minutes. “What is on your mind young man?” he asked? I informed him of my thoughts and desires as I saw him as a respected fellow who genuinely had good intentions for others. That lunch meeting was where my path for the next few years was designed. He recommended a Masters degree in Business Administration and insisted on the Lagos Business School amidst other professional changes I had to make.
After all was said and done, I was privileged to be granted admission but there was a slight challenge – I underestimated the amount of work that would be required of me. From the brush up sessions to the first semester proper, I was confronted with increasing amounts of work. I do not even want to speak about the on-going intensive week, it is demanding! However, one of the courses I enjoy the most is the analysis of business problems. Reflecting on past scenarios at work, it is apparent why questions abounded in all sessions from strategy to market entry to new product launches to other diverse company events. “What, why, when, who, where and how” these questions really got on my nerves but I had to provide answers to them. On my desk as a junior staff, I did not understand the reason for those questions but this class has brought perspective to all those events.
As an aspiring leader in my field, many challenges would arise, some appearing simple while the others taking on more complex forms and I would need to prove my worth. What is the essence of the title without the corresponding capacity? Hence, I need to develop my strategic and critical thinking capability to solve diverse ranges of business problems. First, I would accurately define the problem as knowing the problem is key to solving it. Next, developing my objectives – the goal I expect to achieve from solving the problem would be my next step. I would then outline my criteria for choosing a solution and generate plausible alternatives. Of course, these alternatives would be tested against my criteria and ranked based on weight – the impact they would have on the business. At the end of the day, of what use is my analysis if I don’t take a decision? My decision would be based on my analysis and would include risk mitigations and next step activities.
Learning how to think logically from the facts to the conclusion and then take a decision has been a mental overhauling process as I am used to taking a decision first and then hunting for supporting evidences later to back up my stance. With the value obtained from this course, I already see myself been more valuable at work as my decision-making process going forward would be robust and well-grounded.
This program indeed is the porter’s hands and I will subject myself to the process knowing that many champions have been made in the past and my story will not be different.
Light, Love and Life
#ABP #MMBA4
Power of storytelling