Apparently a good yachting captain can look ahead and interpret an approaching wind change. S/he will then ready the crew to adjust the sails so as to pick up the impending change in wind direction. If this man oeuvre is not implemented the yachts’ speed will be impeded, either by sailing against the wind or being becalmed.
On our career journey we can also be alerted to the winds of change blowing through our lives. We discern that there’s a need for a career adjustment. We sometimes don’t know what it is, where it is or why, but we just intuitively ‘know’ that our career journey is about to take off in another direction.
If this is the situation, here are twelve possible options for you:
1. Remain in your Current Role (no content change): recognition that your current role provides you with your desired level of challenge and development at the moment.
2. Enrichment (develop your current job): considering what job tasks you wish to do more of and negotiating with others to take over those which no longer motivate you.
3. Vertical (seek promotion): considering what would be the real gain for you in seeking increased responsibilities.
4. Exploration (test out options): seeking project work, or deputizing in another job function to test out how you like it.
5. Lateral (sideways move): moving to a similar level of job task difficulty but with different job content.
6. Realignment (moving down): downshifting to less responsibility for a short- or long-term period.
7. Relocation (change business unit): deciding that work of a different nature from your current business unit is more appropriate for your career future.
8. Redirection (change career field): changing the career stream or field of work with your current employer.
9. Proposal (create a new job): submitting a proposal for creating a new job which would meet the needs of your employer and you.
10. External (change employer): deciding that work of a nature different from your current employer is more appropriate for your needs and career future.
11. Enlargement (expand your current job): add new job tasks to your existing job description.
12. Parallel (develop job alternatives): develop alternative job options, from your own business, to a second job, to a volunteer role.
Where are you right now – can you sense the winds of career change? Have you tried one or more of these adjustments? Just as the course of the yacht changes path with the wind, so too do career needs based on your personal situation. Having the ability to recognize when a change is needed, and the confidence to do it, is the key to ensuring your professional life remains fulfilling.
Pleasant Dreams (& happy sailing),
Brian Horan
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Brian Horan is a Careers Counselor/Coach, a published author and international speaker. He is also the Managing Director at eCareers Academy, a Career Counselling service. You can find out more about his services by visiting the website www.eCareersAcademy.com , giving him a call on 1300 396 929 or sending an email, info@eCareersAcademy.com
© Brian Horan at eCareers Academy; August, 2014