Strategically managing your career is less like walking along a path and more like riding an elephant. You need to keep your wits about you, nudging the elephant to keep heading towards what you value. At the same time you need to be searching for all of the different paths available, identifying risks and finding how to get onto the best route. Now and then, you need to let the elephant enjoy the bananas. Other times, you must overcome the elephant’s inertia and get moving. 

The conventional wisdom is that there are two career zones. Your “How?”: the complicated mix of skills and knowledge that enables you to do valuable work. And your “Who?”: the people you can mobilise to open up the “hidden job market”, the opportunities that don’t get advertised.

Careers are also the product of “Why?”.  Not “the meaning of life Why?” More “Why am I building up these skills or networks?” “Why do I feel stuck in this job or following this career path?” “Why do my career goals feel so fuzzy?” Answering these questions, exploring and learning, meeting or re-meeting people, trying new hobbies or developing new skills, means you are more likely to bump into opportunities.  And less likely to end up stuck in a trampled banana plantation.

Stewart has coached people through career transitions and to winning jobs. FXC has a values-focused approach to helping you develop a career strategy through clarity around your How, Who, and Why.  This involves support as you make progress with a customised Workbook – three sessions to develop and begin to action your short- and long-term career plan. For an outline – email us.

 

This skill set will see me out	How	I’m constantly on the lookout for ways to practice my skills
I’ve got good friends, I hate “networking”	Who	Great ideas and opportunites come from sharing ideas
Why bother?	Why	I’m deliberately matching my skills and contacts to future opportunities