People react very differently to the
waves of change that suddenly flood the
marketplace. Some, who feel confused or
unsettled struggle to keep their heads
above water gasping for air. By
contrast, others, who may not even like
or agree with the changes, nevertheless
accept them, get on with their lives and
swim forcefully to their new
destination. Here are three savvy
strategies to help you mobilize your
resources to take charge of your life
and your career.
1. Fuel the Fire In Your
Heart
The key to sustained peak performance
is discovering who you are, what you
want in life, and then confidently
pursue it. Remember, if you don't have
your own mission or purpose get one, or
otherwise, all you can do is sign up for
someone else's. If you don't know where
you're going, how will you know that
you've arrived?
Start by develop a career line.
Prepare a graph that outlines your
career highs and lows from your first
job to the present. What kinds of
activities were you involved in during
your highs - during your lows? Continue
this getting to know yourself process by
locating your inner energy source. What
really gets the juices flowing for you?
Is it challenge? Helping other? Being
creative? Having authority? Making an
impact? Whatever motivates you, write it
on a card and look at it every morning.
Accept the luck of the draw and move
on. During times of uncertainty, realize
that it's often your outlook, what you
bring to work not what work brings to
you, that determines your career
success. Can you look at what's
happening and not take it personally?
Can you bounce back on your own rather
than allow yourself to wallow in
negative emotions? Adversity, or
sometimes just bad luck, can either
break or build character. Which is it
doing for you?
2. Forget Being the Lone
Ranger
Are you familiar with the saying:
"It's not what you know, .but who you
know." Well in today's changing work
world, the new saying is: "It's not only
what you know, it's not only who you
know, but, as important, it's who knows
you and your work."
Inventory your network. List all the
key people in your career world. Are
your contacts mostly within your area?
Or are there linkages into different
departments, divisions, subsidiaries?
What about outside your company? What
kinds of relationships do you have? Hi
and good-by? Or Hi! What have you been
doing? A well developed network is your
ticket to career advancement and
success.
Know and be known. Work groups or
teams, not hierarchies, are now doing
the real work in today's workplace. How
are you going to find out about the
latest hot project? How are key people
going to know about you and your
talents? Realize that contacts are the
bread of career life. In times of
change, your source of power are the
people who know you and know what you
can do.
3. Don't Just Stand There,
Do Something
Recognize a successful career in not
a spectator sport. Opportunities do not
just get placed on your desk.
Organizations will no longer provide you
with clearly defined career paths. Don't
be an absentee landlord and neglect your
personal career management. Take charge
of your career. Remember, if you don't
control your own destiny, no one else
will.
Start by doing a career check up. Ask
yourself: "Where am I? Where do I want
to go? What are some paths to get me
there? What are possible barriers? What
are my supports? What resources am I
going to need? How will I get these
resources?" Failure to take charge of
your career leaves you a victim of your
own neglect and the changing workplace.
Always have several options in your
back pocket. Do you have a Plan A, a
Plan B, and even a Plan C? What
conditions could possibly change in your
job; your company; or your industry? Do
you have a clear idea where you could
jump if unexpected roadblocks arise?
Where else can you apply your skills and
showcase your talents? A successful
career is not fixed in stone, but is
fluid and subject to change.
Key Idea
Remember, the name of the game is
action. Make sure your career goals are
not stranded on a island called:
"Someday I'll ..." If you want
something, don't just think or talk
about it. Figure out a way to make it
happen. Set specific goals. Develop
action plans. Have realistic timetables.
Find the resources you need. Keep alive
in today's rough seas and begin
preparing for tomorrow's raging waters.
Take Charge and Take Action Now!
Do you know there are three kinds of
people in the career world? Those who
make it happen - those who let it happen
- those who are surprised by what’s
happening. Which one are you?
Invest in Your Future
Find the keys to
career security in an insecure world with the Career Success System. You
will learn to avoid career crash and increase your competitive edge.
Check out
strategic coaching services to help you revitalize, reposition or retool
your career. Do you know where you want to go and how to get there?
Read free articles on how to
jump start your career, make a quantum leap to the next level and play the
career game better.
Contact Marcia for a
complimentary consultation. Make sure you’re always in the driver’s seat of your
career.
"Marcia's
concern for the people she coaches is
obvious and very much appreciated. She's
knowledgeable, very focused and willing
to push to make sure you get it and do
it."
--- President,
Business Services and Accounting Firm
