Where Are You in the Work Caste System?

PICTURE

Many of us believe that through a stroke of luck or a random string of events will bring about the life, achievements and contentment that we desire. With every passing day, it becomes clear to me that is could not be farther from the true. Though often overlooked, the systems and organizations which we participate in anchor us to stagnation, and without the proper understanding, you will get trapped in a life you are not content with.

Consider the last time you reached a goal. Was it easily attainable?

After studying the castes systems of many cultures in college, I began developing a stance on the modern work caste system which to many, goes completely unnoticed. While cultural and social caste structures define the roles, hierarchy and permissions, the work caste structure exists in each goal orientated event and organization purpose.

Did you ever wonder why success seems to follow certain people? Check the systems to create for themselves.

There are three (3) classes of the work caste system. Once you understand them, it will alter your perspective on many aspects of your life. Each class is as important as the next and without all of them working in harmony, progress cannot be made. The different levels are as follows:

• Decision Making Unit - This class contains adequate decision making
• Processing & Optimization- This class contains processing of information and developing of efficient systems
• Functional Systems - The class contains the execution of simple function systems that are efficient and effective towards a certain goal

The ladder is one direction, but you need to know how to climb.

Let's consider this on the most basic level of understanding with the individual person and a common task. Imagine that you have to take your car in for an oil change. You could take your car to a random mechanic and have him to the oil change. There are several processes working that take you from thought to completion of the oil change.

1. You must evaluate the status of your car and choose to take your car in for an oil change
2. You must process the various mechanics to decide which is best, which is closer, etc.
3. You must physically take the car to the mechanic to change the oil.

Though seemingly minor, these processes are dependent on one another and require that all are completed for the oil change to take place.

The roles in an organization are identical . Consider the mechanic who you took your vehicle to. Your car comes into the shop and must receive an oil change. You are greeted by the desk attendant (a processor of information), who evaluates your needs and sets up the work for the mechanic(a producer of a functional system). Your car is taken in, and the work is performed on your car. Wait... where is the decision maker? Well, who hired the attendant and mechanic? Who chose and ordered the equipment necessary to perform the work. Who setup the location or the advertising that brought you in? The owner, of course.

So where do you place your personal life or career path in the hierarchy?

First, ask yourself these questions: Are you someone who makes decisions at the workplace? Do you know how to create systems that achieve your goals. It would be great to only set goals and watch them be accomplished, however you must truly understand each level to reach the next compelling event or the goal. Take the opportunity to consider the work caste system at your job and see what steps you must take to pull yourself to the top. Start creating effective systems that will automatically bring you closer to your goals.