When I reflect upon my career prior to becoming a career coach, there are many lessons that I have learned along the way. Admittedly the presence of a mentor or sponsor, could have probably helped me better navigate some of the challenges that I encountered, but there were many situations that I felt I had to go through in order to learn important lessons and be in a position to positively impact others in the future. I would like to share a few things that stop people from maintaining career momentum and that if you take the time to repair, could get you back on track.
Staying in a job you hate
I get it, you’ve got bills and responsibilities. There is currently a global pandemic. Many people consider taking the time to figure out an ideal career to be a luxury that they simply cannot afford. However, I would counter that you have only got one life to live, and if there are others doing what they love to do for work, then why not you? I often read contradictory advice on this, some experts say find a job you love and you never have to work a day in your life, others say that finding a job you love is bad career advice. I think that, as with most things, the answer is a combination of both. I believe that enjoyment of one’s job lies on a spectrum, some people love what they do, many people sit in the middle and are ambivalent about what they do, while others absolutely hate what they do.
I think that if you lie to the left of this spectrum, then it is important for your mental and emotional well being that you investigate other career options. For those that lie in the middle, it really boils down to two things; your characteristics as an individual and your expectations for your life. If you are someone who is pragmatic and can find joy elsewhere, then perhaps being in a job that you neither love nor hate could work for a while. However, if you are like me and really want to enjoy what you do, then this is a non-starter, because your level of satisfaction will continue to remain low until you find that thing that you love.
Aligning yourself to a company rather than purpose
I got a big “aha moment” when I realized this for myself. I found myself in a situation where I had stopped trusting my employer and no longer believed in the direction of the company. Because integrity is high on my list of personal values, I struggled with motivating myself to continue to work at the level that I had up until that point. My first few years within the organization were great, because I believed that I was part of an amazing team who were offering excellent service to our customers and that collectively, we were building an amazing company. Once the sheen wore off, I knew it was time to go. Sometimes people find themselves clinging on to the identity that they have built up as an employer of a certain company, particularly if it is a prestigious one, and struggle to figure out who they are professionally outside of the context of that company. If you are someone who has done this, you will probably find yourself resisting any internal urges to move on, which might end up holding you back in your career.
Not seeking enough feedback
You have probably heard this common saying, that feedback is a gift. And yes I agree that it can be. I think that organisations ought to teach people how to give feedback because if handled incorrectly, it can become an avenue to pursue vendetta’s and damage the reputation of people within an organization who might not be popular. Having said that, where handled constructively, it can be a wonderful thing, to reinforce areas of strength, identify weaknesses and blind spots, and therefore pointers towards further personal development. Ideally you want to seek feedback from peers, juniors, bosses, customers, colleagues, it all helps you form a rounded picture of how you are experienced as well as perceived by others.
Relying on your employer for your personal development
This is a common mistake I see others make, and I personally made myself. I thought that because I worked hard, and delivered great results, my employer would want to continuously invest in me. And they did invest in me, however I think it is important to proactively invest in yourself beyond the construct of your employer. Doing so gives you more confidence and potential career options down the line should you wish to move on from your current employer.
Not making external connections
I believe that being an active member of a community outside of your employer is a good way for one to continue to build their career. Not only do you get to know more people within your industry, but you gain access to more information and potential opportunities.
For more tips on how to advance your current career or transition into the career or business that you love, sign up for my newsletter here and join my facebook group, “The Career Lounge” here.