Is Retirement a Dirty Word?
Do you avoid thinking about retirement? How much are you integrating work into your life for the long term? Has career thinking lost its meaning, becoming more about just doing what you do? My financial advisor offered me two key pieces of advice for the future: stay healthy and enjoy your work! Many others face similar encouragement, while some, though having the choice not to work, approach this transition with caution.
I recently presented at the Family Business UK national conference, where Fiona Graham, a brilliant policy catalyst, highlighted five key elements for addressing People and the Future of Work. One of these was supporting the aging workforce. As organisations and workforces shift, we must ask: what changes are needed in organisations as we increasingly rely on an older workforce? Not least to our own mindset if we are in the latter phases of work.
At Oasis, these transitions are being actively explored by our practitioners and a small number of organisations we work with – it will increase. We’re committed to this theme and alongside the recent podcasts, David and Matt are launching a blog series featuring individual stories, societal possibilities, and organisational initiatives to stimulate discussions and action. Meanwhile, here are some reflections and exercises if you are anticipating your latter phase work life.
As we progress through our careers, our motivations evolve. Early in my professional life, I focused on building skills, gaining experience, and achieving financial stability. Now, as I move into the latter phases of my working life, I am experiencing a subtle but profound shift. I seek deeper meaning and fulfillment, longing for a connection between my work and my core values, passions, and purpose. This transition is described by some as moving from a role-focused career to a soul-focused life.
But I’m not feeling it! Maybe it’s avoidance, but I’ve always aligned my work with my core values, so perhaps I’m still living the dream. Instead, I’m noticing something else that intrigues me: where is my energy? It’s not in the same things that energised me five or fifteen years ago. I am changing and where my energy wants to be is part of that change. Will I just watch as my energy becomes my compass needle or is it a better idea to engage in more fun questions? Meg Wheatley, in “Warriors of the Human Spirit,” suggests that those who have made it in their careers and are wondering what’s next should ask, “What is the work that still calls to be done, and am I the one to do it?”
Let’s return to role and soul. Which speaks to you now, and which to your future?
The Role-Focused Phase - In the role-focused phase, career decisions are driven by external factors like salary, job title, and professional advancement. Success is measured by tangible achievements and climbing the career ladder. While essential for proving oneself professionally, this phase can lead to disconnection or burnout if the work doesn’t resonate on a personal level.
The Soul-Focused Phase - The soul-focused phase emphasises internal fulfilment, aligning your work with personal values, passions, and life purpose. Success here is measured by contentment, joy, and positive impact on others and the world. Transitioning to this phase requires introspection, courage, and a willingness to redefine success.
If you’re in the role-focused phase, check out the other blogs in this series for more insights. If you’re leaning towards the soul-focused phase, read on and sign up for our future insights series to stay updated on discussions and blogs about the latter phases of your career journey.
Possible Strategies for Shifting to a Soul-Focused Career
1. Self-Reflection: Spend time understanding your core values and passions. What activities bring you joy and fulfilment? What causes or issues are you deeply passionate about? Reflect on past experiences and find moments when you felt most alive and engaged. When you felt most ‘you’.
2. Skill Assessment: Name the skills and strengths that you have developed over your career. Consider how these can be applied in new and meaningful ways. Sometimes, it’s not about changing what you do but how you do it.
3. Exploring New Opportunities: Be open to exploring new roles or even industries that align more closely with your values and passions. This might involve taking up volunteer work, pursuing further education, or networking with individuals who are already working in areas that interest you.
4. Find someone to work with: to help your exploration and to act as a sounding board, catalyst or active encourager.
Exercise 1: Values Clarification
1. Name Core Values: Write down a list of 7 values that are most important to you. These could include things like integrity, creativity, community, freedom, or compassion.
2. Prioritise: Rank these values in order of importance. This can help you understand what drives your decisions and what you need in a career to feel fulfilled. It can also help understand some of the areas of conflict or dilemma.
3. Reflect: Think about how your current role aligns with these values. Are there any gaps? What changes can you make to better align your work with your values?
Exercise 2: Passionate Investments
1. Passion Inventory: Write down activities or topics that you are passionate about. These can be hobbies, causes, or areas of interest that energise you.
2. Link Passions to Skills: For each passion, list three skills you have that could be related to this area. For example, if you are passionate about education, your skills might include teaching, mentoring, and/or public speaking.
3. Research Opportunities: Look for opportunities where you can combine your passions with your skills. This might involve researching organisations, attending industry events, or connecting with professionals in the field.
You can sign up for more insights in the box below and if you would like to try a Taster Session with one of our coaches, please get in touch.
You might also be interested in one of our recent podcasts which features retirement as an element of later life working (or not working!). You can listen to the podcast HERE.
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