subject: Six Steps To Making The Most Of Your Career Change [print this page] Obstacles will get in the way when you commit to shifting your career, so here are some practical tips for coaching yourself to success!
Step 1 - Get focused... Which areas of your career do you most want to shift? Make a list of all that are really important to you e.g. inspiration, confidence, connections, purpose, skills, location, industry, work-life balance, salary, support, entrepreneurship, job search, resources, interview preparation. Chose one area that if improved would make the greatest difference to your whole career. Don't spend too long choosing, trust your intuition.
Step 2 - Get real... Think about this area of your career. What made you choose it over and above the others? Put your thoughts to paper, all of them no matter how positive or negative they are. Rate your satisfaction of this area, where 0 = dissatisfied and 10= satisfied. Chose a number that best represents how you feel about it today and write it down.
Step 3 - Get clarity... Spend 30 minutes on your own, in a quiet place. Imagine that it is exactly 3 months from today's date. What would you hope to be different about this area of your career? How will this benefit you? What excites you about this? How do you feel now that the change has occurred? What would you tell others about the changes made? What will your new satisfaction rating be? Put your thoughts to paper or draw a picture to represent what the future looks like. This exercise will leave you motivated and maybe a bit scared!
Step 4- Get ready... The following day, re-read everything you wrote about this area of your career. Add any thing else that occurs to you...everything! Now, on a blank piece of paper, list all the options (between 5-10) you have for making a positive change in this area of your career. Have fun and be creative, no matter how wild or unbelievable they seem today! If you get stuck, try again. Call a trusted family member or friend for help....but only if you get really stuck!
Step 5 - Get steady... Review the list of options, numbering them by putting the least challenging first. When you achieve the first option it will give you confidence to complete the others. Against each option, write what might stop you from following it through and next to this write a solution that will empower you to overcome this. Complete this exercise for all the options.
Step 6 - Get going... Every week for the next 3 months make each option a reality. Do whatever it takes (legally!) to make it happen. Don't allow excuses, fear, resistance or anything else to stop you. If you get discouraged revisit the future in step 3 to remind yourself of satisfied you will be. At the end of 3 months weeks rate your satisfaction in the same area of your career. How has it changed? Celebrate your achievements! Repeat steps 1-6 to transform your whole career!
