The Courage to Pursue Your Passion
3 MIN
Going from supervisor to individual contributor was unexpected, but it was the right move for Shakkthi Balasubramanian.
“What are you passionate about?”
For Shakkthi, a simple but unexpected question from his supervisor became the motivation for change in his life — and one that would significantly transform his career and maximize his contributions. As a supervisor, he had built a successful IT career that followed a traditional path by rising through the ranks as a technician, then a team lead and finally, supervisor. There was only one problem — the more Shakkthi’s responsibilities changed during those 15 years, the further he moved away from his true passion: the work itself.
At Koch, you don’t have to be a supervisor to be successful
After joining Koch as a supervisor four years ago, Shakkthi made what seemed a logical next step in his career. However, he quickly learned that at Koch, there is no such thing as a typical career path. Instead, the ultimate goal is helping every employee maximize their contributions — by doing a job they are passionate about while also creating the greatest value for the business. Nine months into his new job at Koch, Shakkthi realized he might not be in the right role, but wasn’t sure how to have that conversation with his supervisor. “In previous companies, if an employee came to their supervisor and said, ‘I think I need a different role,’ they would be seen as an at-risk employee,” Shakkthi recalled.
To his surprise, his supervisor didn’t just help start the conversation — he encouraged Shakkthi to consider what he was genuinely passionate about and how to find work that best aligned with his gifts through his journey of self-actualizing.
“In previous companies, if an employee came to their supervisor and said, ‘I think I need a different role,’ they would be seen as an at-risk employee."
Solving business problems
Shakkthi realized what really drove him was solving problems and finding solutions that could positively affect the business and his colleagues. He’d always excelled as a supervisor, but it didn’t fulfill him in the same way as doing the hands-on work that first sparked his passion for IT all those years ago.
With his supervisor’s help, Shakkthi began the journey of exploring new opportunities at Koch and eventually moved into an individual contributor role as a solutions architect.
At first, Shakkthi worried about the perception others might have when they learned he was stepping away from his role as a supervisor. However, when others saw him thriving in his new role, they began seeking his advice on their own journey. Even Shakkthi’s family, who initially worried that his decision might be seen as a demotion, came around when they saw the excitement Shakkthi had about opportunities with his new role.
Explore and Expand Your Boundaries
Today, Shakkthi Balasubramanian is doing what he loves best. His new role was not a step back — it was a step forward. “Now I get to work with all the businesses,” Shakkthi said. And his opportunities for increasing his total contribution continue to grow. By focusing on his strengths and passions, Shakkthi’s journey from supervisor to individual contributor resulted in a more fulfilling role that allows him to bring the greatest value to his company and colleagues.
Give it a Try
The power of these principles happens through application. There’s no substitute for learning as you apply.
- Write down three things you are passionate about. Then ask 2-3 people who know you well what they would say you’re passionate about. What did you learn about yourself?
- Talk with your supervisor about your interests and passions. Making them aware of this enables them to help shape your current and future roles!
- What was the main barrier between Shakkthi and a more self-actualizing role? Was that an internal or external barrier?
- How can you or your team help remove barriers to self-actualizing?