I’ve been working on this model new, hybrid work atmosphere as a Cisco Cybersecurity Sales Specialist for simply over a 12 months now, and it’s been nothing wanting improbable. Moving from the battlefield to the lounge comes with its challenges, perks, difficulties, and superb alternatives. What a wild trip it has been! One of probably the most worthwhile issues I’ve realized right here at Cisco is that if one factor is definite, issues will change. However, I additionally realized that management coaching on contingencies I obtained within the navy is as related in my position at Cisco because it was in Iraq and Afghanistan. Here is a type of contingency planning studying experiences from a deployment I keep in mind vividly.
The surprisingly satisfying scent of a sandstorm overwhelmed by a sudden and sudden torrential downpour is as distinctive an expertise as there’s, rivaled solely by the sight of it. Ah, Afghanistan. I would miss you only a tiny bit.
Over the previous seven months, my fellow Marines and I had been on a number of missions the place the target was clear and the end result was comparatively predictable. This present mission, nevertheless, was something however predictable or routine.
In a halted place, we watched the magnificent mountain of sand, dancing and combating to remain alive in opposition to an overwhelming rainstorm out in entrance of us. We knew that after it was secure to maneuver, we had been headed into part of the nation that only a few Western militaries had ever been – and to make issues worse, the enemy knew we had been coming. We battened down the hatches, ready to get pounded by the storm, and tackle no matter was despatched our means.
We moved out, the rain nonetheless very heavy in entrance of us, making the roads a muddy mess, however, eerily, not a drop fell on us. We moved slowly and cautiously due to the specter of explosives on our route. But, to our shock, nothing was occurring. Not one automobile was hit.
We stopped to find the heavy rain had destroyed the explosives’ initiators. I heard an audible gasp from my Marines within the automobile, trying to me for management and steering. With a brand new sense of safety and burst of confidence, I gave them a glance that mentioned, “Let’s do this.” They all nodded again with out saying a phrase. Our plans modified. Now it was time to get to work.
Throughout that mission and lots of others to observe, I repeatedly needed to change my plans based mostly on no matter scenario we had been confronted with.
As leaders, we’re repeatedly confronted with the sudden and have to regulate to the scenario in entrance of us, together with this shift from in-person work environments to hybrid work fashions. Now, I’m not attempting to say {that a} fight scenario is similar as Cisco’s work atmosphere. Still, over the previous 12 months, I’ve discovered myself adopting so many classes from navy contingency planning into my day-to-day, hybrid work-life.
We have a saying within the navy, “Adapt and overcome.” What navy veterans carry to the desk is the flexibility to evaluate a scenario, decide what the end result needs to be, and transfer towards that consequence. Here at Cisco, I’ve been capable of put this philosophy to the check greater than as soon as. As a cybersecurity gross sales specialist, day-after-day, I’ve to evaluate what my buyer wants, decide the answer to greatest meet that want, and transfer towards that resolution, all whereas interacting utterly remotely. Things usually change and might be difficult, however that’s the place the navy coaching actually kicks in.
As a customer-facing gross sales group, oftentimes, prospects drive our schedules. Our gross sales groups go to wholesome extremes to not solely make ourselves obtainable to prospects as they want us, however to ship the excellence that they deserve. With that mentioned, issues usually change on the drop of a hat. A gathering scheduled for an hour is rapidly minimize to fifteen minutes, and as a gross sales and cybersecurity staff, we now have to adapt and overcome by squeezing the data that the client wants into that quick timeframe! The potential to suppose rapidly in your toes is a translatable talent that we navy people have realized properly.
Military life interprets properly to life right here at Cisco. Our potential to adapt to altering conditions is simply part of a navy particular person’s DNA. Over the previous 12 months, I’ve been capable of regulate to a hybrid work mannequin, acquire unbelievable flexibility for my household (a real profit after being deployed for thus lengthy), and I’ve been capable of finding a neighborhood of not solely Cisconians, however navy veterans similar to me who’ve your again everytime you want them. If you’re a navy veteran or transitioning navy member, I extremely encourage you to achieve out to Cisco and see for your self what I’m speaking about. You gained’t be dissatisfied.
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