A career to enjoy is personal; for one person it’s about moving through the rungs of a structured hierarchy, for others it’s about gaining deep knowledge and confidence, to become a “subject expert”. Both are valid and 100% supported by my Career and Return to Work Coaching approach. If this rings true with you, I wanted to share four questions that will help you understand more about what you want next for your career. Ultimately, a career to enjoy is personal; so, let’s uncover what you want now, to make plans.
Gone are the days where success is seen in ONLY changing job titles, but instead, in the satisfaction you feel and the value that is felt. A recent client I worked with summed up this in their feedback:
“Clara helped me realise that it’s okay to be happy in a company and role that I’ve had for a while – I don’t need to change it if I’m happy.”
This top is the core part of the career and return to work coaching; understanding your values and your personality and how your role permits you to a) work to your strengths and b) design the life you want. One area that is often identified is where work sits in the list of priorities; I have lost count of the number of times people confess like it is a dirty secret, that work is not the be-all and end-all.
Frequently the messages we are given at work, and even within the career coaching sector, is “What is Next?”. Managers and Leaders are judged on how their staff are progressing and will regularly project their career aspirations onto those around them. But what happens if you like what you do and are quite happy to continue doing this?
I’m going to tell you this, straight from the mouth of a Career Coach who wants you to enjoy your work, it’s OK to feel this way! It’s not a reflection of your capability, your aspirations, or your success.
Let’s draw on Sociology to help you place a category on what your work is for you. In the recent book review for Flourish by Martin Seligman, I came across a great breakdown of three types of work*. I’ll condense this for you here, and I wonder what would ring true for you:
Is it a Job?
Ultimately, it’s just about the money you receive. When the money stops you stop working!
Is it a Career?
This is what you expect, a path where you pursue promotions, and will move organisations to gain them.
Is it a Calling?
This is done for its own sake, something that you would do for no pay or promotions.
Now, just from those three definitions alone, you may have already uncovered what is relevant to you. Your approach may vary based on other things; your energy, your other commitments, the work environment, and your health (commonly can impact how you feel about work), so be aware that is it not unusual for your view to change over time.
To deepen your understanding of where you stand right now, I want you to consider these four questions honestly:
- Does your job work for you or work for your job?
How much do you need to design your life around your work – are all your life decisions driven by it?
- What stories were you told about carer success – how much is relevant now?
Are you living according to other people’s idea of success; are these real, are they recent and do they matter to you?
- If you didn’t have to work for money, what would you do?
The thought exercise about where you would put your time and energy if you were financially independent after uncovers some interesting truths!
- If you could start over, what would you do?
Would it be what you are doing? If not, what would you need to do now, to make that happen?
These answers can help you understand how you feel about work right now, and, more importantly, give you permission to build YOUR version of career success!
If you would like to join over 500 people, who happen to be parents, working on their version of a career to enjoy, then join me on Facebook.
*(A. Wrzesniewksi, C.R. McCauley, P. Rozin, and B. Schwartz “Jobs, Careers and Callings: People’s Relations to their work” Journal of Research in Personality 31 (1997):21-33
Clara Wilcox is a straight talking, practical and experienced coach helping clients navigate the tricky waters of returning to work, career changes and professional development. The Balance Collective is a social enterprise focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance.
