Are you at a crossroads?

On By bhaughneyIn Assessment, Change Management, Creating Your Vision, Encouragement, Leadership, Uncategorized

There are many reasons you could be at a crossroads in your career:

  1. Recently laid off or fired
  2. Unhappy in your current position
  3. Uncertain of your organization’s future
  4. Want to be more challenged
  5. Want to be less challenged
  6. Spouse or partner is considering relocating and you want to be supportive

Your own reason may be complex, just a feeling that it is time for a change.  This is not unusual, especially if you are deep into your career, you have family demands, and/or other stressors such as health issues or family health issues.

Here are some steps you can take to help you make good decisions at this critical juncture.

  1. Assess.  What is really driving this need for change?  Is the need urgent or can you feel good about taking a wait and see approach.
  • Plan. Once you make a decision about what you need and why and when, you can begin to plan how you will make it happen.
  • Input. Get others who you have a trust relationship with to give you feedback.  Bounce ideas and options off of them.
  • Step Forward. Take one step toward your goal. How does it feel? Are the barriers too great? How determined are you to break through these barriers?
  • Vision. As you progress forward, you should be able to see your way clear to your goal.  Think about how it will feel to be in a better place, even if you make a change within the same organization or decide to stick it out in the same job with some minor adjustments.
  • Renew.  Make a commitment that you will be content where you land.  Get up every day and be thankful for what you have. Be alert to subtle cues that you are given about how you are doing and stay on track.
  • Celebrate. Take pride in your accomplishments while recognizing that you are a continuous learner. Take time to reflect on you and your career every six months.  Ask yourself what is going well and what is not going well. Try to change the things you can change.

We all must have a purpose to get up every day and give it our all.  Make your purpose one that calls you to action with joy and perseverance!

“Every day is a renewal, every morning the daily miracle. This joy you feel is life.”

– Gertrude Stein.

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