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CAREER COACH: Simple questions may revitalize your career
By Barbara Poole
It seemed like a simple enough question when I asked the woman I met at a business association meeting a few weeks ago how long she’s been at her job.
She first responded, “Eight years, I think,” and then went on to say, “No, wait—it’s 2005, so that means it’s more like 10 years.”
A look of horror crossed her face. “Can I have really been there that long? I’m not even sure I like the place!”
She speaks for a lot of people out there. For many folks, one year bleeds into the next, and before they know it, they’ve invested a significant chunk of time in a job or a company that was originally intended to be a steppingstone, a place to gain some experience before moving on.
Because our careers happen in the context of busy lives, it can be easy for a job to turn into a habit, something that we simply go do every day, without questioning whether it’s really fulfilling or helping us grow professionally. The beginning of spring is a great time to “spring clean,” and check out the state of your career. Take inventory on how things are going. You may want to make some minor adjustments, or perhaps consider some big changes to how you’re spending your working life. Ask yourself these questions:
Am I happy? I’m talking genuinely happy here, not just OK. Do you wake up on Monday mornings feeling energized and looking forward to the week, or are you counting the seconds until you can say “TGIF?”
What do I like about my work? Step outside of your job description for a moment and give yourself permission to consider what you really enjoy about your job. What inspires you? What do you lose yourself in?
What would I like to change about my work? Consider what about your job feels limiting or uncreative. What aspects of your position could be revised to be more effective or make better use of your natural abilities? What could be accomplished more easily or less stressfully if new processes or procedures were implemented?
How does my work fit with what matters most to me? Is it important to you to contribute to society? To discover something new? To exercise your creativity? We each bring to the workplace a set of core personal values. The best jobs are those that allow you to operate in synch with those values and work in a way that is meaningful for you.
Am I getting what I need from my job? This question is about more than just salary and benefits, although that’s certainly an important factor to consider. Are you in a situation that provides you with sufficient stimulation to keep you engaged? To meet your social needs? To be part of a strong team? To provide security for yourself and your family?
Will this job help me get to where I want to be in five years? What do you want next for yourself professionally? If you are in your 30s, it’s probably important to see a career path in front of you, along with increased earnings potential. If you’re in your late 50s, your five-year plan may be to prepare for a comfortable retirement.
Is this the type of organization I want to work for? Just as each of us has a set of personal values that we are oriented around, so too, do organizations have a predominant culture that defines what they are about. Is your company an aggressive, freewheeling enterprise? If so, does that work for you, or are you looking for more of a staid and conservative environment?
What would the ideal work environment look like for me? Looking at all of the factors you have considered with these questions, what would your optimum position and environment consist of? How close does your reality come to matching that vision?
Who can I explore these questions with? It’s often difficult to see the forest for the trees with respect to the objective state of your career, especially if you’ve been in the same place for a while. Who could provide support for your career exploration and challenge your thinking? Who could help you see what you may not be seeing for yourself? Who could help you brainstorm alternative possibilities?
What can I do to change my situation starting today? What is one small thing that you can begin, right now, that will help you move your career in the direction you want it to go? It may be as simple as taking the time to systematically answer these questions and discover the patterns that are true for you. It may involve enlisting the support of a coach or someone else who can help. It could involve scheduling an appointment with your manager or human resources department to investigate career growth options. Whatever it is, commit to taking one small action, starting today, that will lead you in the direction you really want to go. You’ll be glad you did.
Barbara Poole is a leadership and career development coach with Charleston-based Success Builders Inc. She can be reached at coachbarbara@successbuildersinc.com.
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