Navigating the paths of career development
“Show me the person who has never made a mistake and I’ll show you somebody who has never achieved very much.” Joan Collins
“The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.” Alvin Toffler
Navigating the paths of career development is akin to embarking on a journey through a dense forest, where each trail represents opportunities, challenges, and growth. In this dynamic landscape, it calls for us to be adept at recognising and often adjusting routes to shape and influence our professional lives. In this insight we consider key ingredients for career engagement.
Firstly, self-awareness acts as a compass, guiding us through the myriad of choices. Understanding personal strengths, weaknesses, and passions enables most to look to a path that aligns with our values and aspirations. It’s like identifying key landmarks in the career terrain that resonate with our identity.
At Oasis, we’ve collaborated with GRLI[1] and oikos[2] to assist leaders, both established and emerging, from various countries worldwide in examining their values as a means of orienting themselves to what truly matters. It was surprising to discover how few opportunities younger leaders had to reflect on their own values, and how frequently they realised a misalignment with their unconscious paths. Similarly, many established leaders had not taken the chance to reassess their values and consider the evolving life and professional questions critical to them compared to a decade ago.
Building a strong foundation involves acquiring the necessary skills and qualifications, akin to laying stepping stones along a path. Continuous learning and professional development serve as essential tools for staying relevant in today’s ever-evolving job market. The visible paths are often illuminated by the glow of expertise and knowledge.
Networking serves as the interconnected trails that lead to new opportunities. Cultivating meaningful professional relationships and engaging with mentors, coaches and mavens[3] provide valuable insights and support. It’s like forging alliances with fellow explorers who can share experiences and offer guidance and connectivity in often unfamiliar or atypical territories.
Adaptability is the sturdy walking stick that aids in overcoming obstacles and unforeseen challenges. The career landscape is dynamic, and the ability to pivot when necessary ensures progress even when faced with unexpected detours. Flexibility is the key to navigating the twists and turns of the professional journey.
Embracing challenges as opportunities for growth transforms obstacles into stepping stones. Each setback becomes a lesson, contributing to personal and professional development. It’s the realisation that even the most challenging paths can lead to the most rewarding destinations.
By embarking on this journey with a clear sense of direction and a willingness to learn and grow, we can equip ourselves to navigate through the professional landscape, unlocking new opportunities and achieving or refining our career ambitions.
Until next time – travel light and be well.
Some questions to consider for the visible path:
· How would you describe what is important to you?
o For the work you do?
o For the life you want?
o What 3 or 4 aspects do you most value?
· How would your colleagues describe 3 of your strengths and 3 areas for development?
o Ask them – pick 2 or 3 people you trust to be honest with you
· What skills and qualifications do you have?
o What skills, abilities, competencies have you developed in your current role? (we often live in a previous version of ourselves – it is always worth updating what we have because what we had is usually out of date)
· How and where have you honed your learning in the last year?
o What have you learned or realised about how you work and what you bring?
o What have you recognised about changes and trends in the wider landscape of employment and employability?
· Who are your key six people who are your informal ‘personal board member’ who connect you with the wider world and possibilities
o If you don’t have six who would you like to make up the number?
o If you six or more, are they still serving you in terms of connectivity and networking?
· When did you last have to demonstrate flexibility and how skilled are you?
o What helps you, what could help you more?
o How well do you hold the boundaries that help your resilience? What could be improved or valued more strongly?
· Space for your own…
Until next time, travel light and be well
Next Insight - Career Development – perhaps not step-by-step
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[1] Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative[2] International Student Movement[3] People who know people and can see potential connections and interdependencies – they put people in touch with people and then get out of the way to enable whatever might emerge to manifest. Book a free discovery session with an Oasis coach by clicking on the button below.