I wrote in a post recently that I no longer experience ‘Monday morning blues’, because now, I love my work and what I do.’ The truth is, it has not always been this way.
There have been times in my early career when I dreaded going into work. I remember pulling into a particular train stop, on my commute in. At that exact moment, my stomach would lurch, I would tense up and a feeling of uneasiness would spread throughout my body, at the thought of having to spend another day in a hostile and toxic work environment.
I resigned after two months, because I knew things would not change. However, we can’t all be so frivolous, and it begs the question, is resigning the only solution?
Women & Careers
New trends in career research highlight the concept of ‘boundaryless careers’ and the concept of the “opt-out” revolution. According to research, this is causing a talent drain of highly trained women, (largely working mothers), who are no longer bound to the idea of a ‘traditional career’ with steady promotions up to the top of the c-suite ladder.
Two amazing career theorists, Lisa Maneiro & Sherry Sullivan: Kaleidoscope Careers, (2006) conducted extensive research into women’s careers and found, that “…much like a kaleidoscope that shifts and changes patterns, women shift the pattern of their careers around different aspects of their lives.” Maneiro & Sullivan, found that women were more likely to take into consideration, their spouse, children, elderly parents and even their colleagues when making a career decision. Other research suggests that professionals are increasingly becoming more motivated by self-fulfilment and the desire to balance work with nonwork.
We spend so much time in the workplace, that’s it’s important to ensure we are in a great space, to be ‘career resilient’ - manage our careers effectively and bounce back and adapt to today’s changeable and evolving work environments.
According to research, highly trained women, (largely working mothers), are no longer bound to the idea of a ‘traditional career’ with steady promotions up to the top of the c-suite ladder.
How do you “show up” at work?
We all have our down days, but is this a reoccurring theme?
It may be useful to reflect on how you truly feel about work. How do you present yourself or “show up” at work? What type of activities or projects motivate you when it comes to work and what elements of your role don’t you enjoy?
We all have our down days, but is this a reoccurring theme, where for example, you regularly lack motivation at work? Do you perhaps take an elongated amount of time to do simple tasks, or do you find yourself resenting the prospect of taking on new tasks? If so, you may be in need of a career makeover.
As a career management coach, I work with lots of clients who say they are “stuck” in a perpetuating cycle of “feeling unhappy and unfulfilled at work,” yet, not knowing how to change things. Whilst others find it too challenging to balance the demands and needs of work and home life.
We can’t all give up work or leave our jobs, and if you do, you may find in just a few months, you may end up feeling the similar frustrations, especially if you haven’t addressed the key underlying issues of your discontentment. However, you can turn things around and it’s not as big a task as you may think. Most people I speak with have a vague idea of where their careers are headed and do just fine, but with a SMART career plan in place, that’s (Specific, Measurable, Attractive, Realistic and Timely), which is also open to elements of flexibility and includes short- and longer-term goals and action steps, you can reignite your career passions.
Career Changers
Once you’ve addressed the career makeover questions and you still find yourself veering towards a career change, you may like to spend time thinking about the following:
What your interests and passions? What things excite you when it comes to work?
What skills would you like to be using in your future career?
How would you like your future role/career to meet your current work values?
Who do you know or who could you speak to, regarding the career or area you are interested in?
What else could you do to learn more about the career you’d like to move into?
Are there skills which you need which you don’t have? What are they and how can you address this skills gap?
What actions could you take to move yourself closer to achieving your ideal future career?
Optimise your chances of reaching your career potential and goals with a SMART career Plan.
A SMART career plan
Having a rough idea about what you’d like to do, whether in your current role or in a new career, you can then identify short-term and long-term career goals and action steps you can take to give yourself a career makeover or career change.
In addition, with a SMART career plan in place, if you commit to working on this and completing small action steps at least 3-4 times a week, you can optimise your chances of reaching your career potential and goals.
If you’d discuss your career-related issues and find out how we at Flourish Careers can help, please contact us at: enquiries@flourishcareers.co.uk.
Article produced By Czarina Charles, Managing Director of Flourish Careers, as an associate for The Maternity Coach. First published on Propelelo: https://app.propelelo.com/posts/do-you-need-a-career-makeover