Much of my
coaching work revolves around professional
development for both individuals and executives
in organizations or businesses of their own.
I find myself wondering: Why are some people
promoted to positions that bring out the best in
them, while equally talented peers get left
behind in positions that don’t allow them to
flourish? Are there secrets to a rewarding
and satisfying career?
According to Gallup research, only twenty
percent of people are working in jobs that
provide them the opportunity to excel in what
they do best.
Since we spend so many of our waking hours
working, shouldn’t we try to make that time
rewarding and fulfilling? Unfortunately, many of
us feel trapped in mediocre careers and place
the blame on poor company leadership and lack of
opportunities. In these situations, daily work
becomes a grind when we cannot apply our
strengths.
What then should you do? Change jobs or move on
to another company? Stay put and suffer?
I have truly come to believe that the answer
to career fulfillment and success lies within
you; it's up to you to find out where your
passion lies and how you can succeed no matter
where you are.
Despite some success at your job, even at the
executive level there may be times when you
experience dissatisfaction or emptiness. This
often happens at a mid-career point, a life
transition or crisis, or when a promotion
doesn’t materialize. You begin to ask yourself
if there truly is meaning in the work that you
do.
Earlier in your career, career choices were
probably easier to make as it was clearer which
options were advantageous. At that time, you may
have plotted out your ascent up the ladder and
gone after career-enhancing goals.
However, by the time you reach mid-career, the
ladder may have moved quite a bit. And it can be
a challenge to know which the right career moves
are.
Secret #1: You Are in Charge
No one manages your career but you, and you must
rely on yourself as your own guide, even if you
are fortunate to have a trusted mentor or coach.
Most professionals have moved amongst several
organizations by the time they reach mid-career
points. This may be due to company upheavals,
downsizing, or mergers and acquisitions.
If you’re ambitious, you are most likely going
to move through more jobs within a decade than
did an executive thirty years ago. Career
choices are no longer simple, and career paths
are varied and unpredictable. There are many
forks in the road, and one wrong turn can mean
years of waiting for the next opportunity to
come along. With each change comes your
opportunity to reflect on the next strategy
required to sustain a long and successful
career.
Secret #2: Don’t rely on a safety net.
Your individual career is becoming as complex as
the business environment. While companies are
becoming more sophisticated and creative about
attracting talent, the incentives, compensation
and opportunities they offer are more complex.
Career success is not achieved easily. It
requires investment of time, effort, focus,
emotional intelligence, and personal sacrifices.
However, it’s worth noting that people attaining
the highest levels of professional success
report being more satisfied with their jobs,
their lifestyle, and their compensation in their
lives.
Secret #3: Ambition is Never Enough
For people to really excel in their work, they
need more than just ambition. Satisfying the
goals of others, attaining numbers, receiving
rewards, and attaining status is rarely enough.
You need be connected to your core values and
intrinsic motivators in order to be truly
fulfilled. Determining what your internal drives
are is not an easy task. There are also many
assessment tools that can help clarify your
self-knowledge. You may also require the
services of a coach to assist us in your quest.
Secret #4: Stop Doing What You Don’t
Like!
Career success is more like sculpting and
editing, rather than accumulating or building.
“Discover what you don’t like doing and stop
doing it!” – Marcus Buckingham,
The One Thing You Need to Know (2005) - see my
review.
According to research from the Gallup
Organization and Marcus Buckingham, it doesn’t
make sense to stretch yourself with new and
challenging assignments, or even to strive for
balance if it involves doing things that you
don’t like doing! Doing what you dislike tends
to make you focus on your flaws – not very
energizing is it?
Sculpting your ideal career path consists in
part of knowing when to say “no”.
Secret #5: Ask yourself three
questions.
Research shows that the factors forming the core
of career success lie in the answers to three
questions:
1. What are your core values?
2. What is your core purpose?
3. What are you trying to do with your life?
Those who experience high levels of success in
their careers report an alignment of what they
do with who they are. They somehow find the
magic blend of their life purpose with what they
do in their jobs.
The search for one’s purpose is important, and
often challenging. Many of us spend our lifetime
searching for true purpose. We all seek meaning
from life. Everyone wants to leave footprints.
Yet finding and clearly defining what that is,
is elusive.
The Power and Energy of Purpose
You can identify your purpose by looking deep
within. Regardless of your spiritual or
philosophical beliefs, most people agree that
when you act in accord with your strengths,
talents and desires, you experience a sense of
heightened energy or flow. When your purpose
is aligned with your “calling”, you feel
inspired. Work no longer becomes a chore, but
rather an enjoyment, reflecting in your
expressions and behavior.
The key to acting with purpose is to find that
intersection between the needs of the
organization (or even the world) and your unique
gifts. By finding a way to apply your talents
and passion to the tasks you perform, work
becomes a way of making an active contribution.
Successful people had the courage to choose
their work wisely. They are unwilling to
tolerate aspects of their job they aren’t good
at, and they find a way to delegate or avoid
those tasks.
The longer you put up with aspects of your work
that don’t play to your strengths, or that are
not aligned with your core values and purpose,
the less likely you will discover success.
Focus on your best talents AND what you love to
do. In this way, you’ll achieve more. You’ll
experience sustained career success. And you’ll
find that your career path is exactly where it
should be, on purpose, and expressing who you
are.
I would welcome
your comments or observations by e-mail to
pkennealy@oyaconsulting.com!
Oya
News
Well, I finally
did it!
The Entrepreneurial MD was "born" on August
29th! It has been a huge effort, hence the lag
between my last newsletter and this one. The
Entrepreneurial MD represents a new aspect of my
business, providing resources and coaching to
help physicians thrive as entrepreneurs. I had planned to be up and running by August
1 and was only 28 days late. Take a look and
tell me what you think!
If you know of any
physicians who have built businesses in small or
big ways, please introduce me to them. I'd love
to learn about their accomplishments and invite
them to be interviewed by me. You can send me
their names by e-mailing me at
philippa@entrepreneurialMD.com!
And if you know
any physicians who are itching to start a
business or beef up their practices, please send
them to the new website at
www.entrepreneurialMD.com.
If you have a
burst of energy for the fall
and feel like you want to make the last quarter
of this year as productive as possible,
contact
me,
for a complimentary meeting to discuss how
coaching might get you firmly on track to
accomplish your goals.
Instead of a book
this month, I'd like to share a website and
blog, called
StevePavlina.com with you that I have found
to be both thoughtful and enlightening. The
tagline "Personal Development for Smart People"
explains the site's philosophy and approach
well.
Even though, as a
coach, I use many, if not most, of the ideas and
concepts embodied by this site in my coaching, I
realize that there is power in being able to
browse such a content-rich in digestible blocks
of time. It's also impressive to follow the
logic of his reasoning, which results in clearer
thinking.
I prefer browsing
his
blog because the same content is organized
into categories, which makes it easier to select
a topic I'm interested in and read that
material. He has a book in the works, which,
judging by the size of his readership and
reputation is bound to be a good if not best
seller!
Of equal
fascination to me is tracing his story of as an
entrepreneur, going from computer geeky guy to
personal development guru. His business model is
intriguing - all he offers is free content,
nothing else (no consultations, no coaching, no
products) and yet he makes a six-figure income
just from this website, from donations (which he
deserves, in my opinion) and advertising. It's a
revealing look into the internet and blogging
economy!
Please
forward this newsletter to a client, friend,
relative or acquaintance that might enjoy
reading it.
Philippa Kennealy MD MPH CPCC
President, Oya Consulting
Philippa Kennealy is an Executive and
Professional Coach and Professional Speaker, dedicated to your professional
and personal success and fulfillment.
To
schedule an initial FR*EE consultation, to learn
more, or to inquire about having her speak to
your group or organization, contact her at:
pkennealy@oyaconsulting.com
or
click here.
SHARE THE WEALTH
If you enjoy this newsletter and want others to
benefit, please forward this copy to family,
friends or colleagues. I truly appreciate your
loyalty and interest.
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