I used to not like Sundays. I was one among the masses of folks who got the Sunday Blues. I've spent a lot of time not enjoying my work. I know that is kind of strange coming from a career counsellor.
I now know that it wasn't actually the work that I didn't like. I've always felt a strong connection to my clients and I spend a lot of time thinking about how to help them.
What wasn't a fit for me were my workplaces. Some were better than others but to make a long story short, corporate culture is not for me.
My core career driver and what really matters to me is autonomy. I enjoy the freedom to manage my own time and make my own decisions at work. I guess I don't like being told what to do.
Now I love what I do. Did I have to sacrifice some things to get here? Yes, yes I did. I traded some material rewards and security in the short term. Has that been worth it? Yes, yes it has. Knowing what matters to me has been a complete game changer.
Most people have no idea what really matters to them in their career.
No wonder they find it hard to make decisions about it.
Follow these 5 steps to make career decision-making easier and simpler.
Learn what drives you at your core.
This won’t always stay the same. What matters right now? Material Rewards? Security? Power? Meaning? Expertise? Creativity? Affiliation? Autonomy? Security? Status?
You might be thinking: but Christine doesn’t everyone want money and meaning from their work? Yes, we all need to eat and buy shoes, yes we all want a meaningful life. BUT are we all driven primarily by money or meaning in our work! NO! Most of us will be driven by a number of things in our career. You want to know what drives you at your core. Right now. That is a different thing.
Learn how to satisfy your core driver in your work.
Ex.: Is your core driver affiliation? Answer this: How connected do you feel to your work on a scale of 1-10? Why did you rate it that? In what ways do you or don’t you feel connected to your role (by way of duties, responsibilities, achievements), your workplace (mission, management, team), your profession, or your industry?
Use drivers-based decision making in your career. What decisions can I make to increase my satisfaction in this area now? Ex: Decide to get more involved—join a committee, group, professional or industry association.
Create a filter that makes future decisions easier.
Ex: You’re offered a promotion but not sure if you should take it. Ask: How will this decision impact my core driver? Will it help satisfy it or is it in conflict with it? Is it neutral?
Filters help you to see the options you have for change clearly and simply. Using the affiliation example: if you don’t feel an affiliation with your current role, but feel strongly connected to your workplace, your industry, or profession—you may decide to focus on making changes to your current role within your workplace. You can also recognize you have the option of deciding to look at different roles within your current workplace or at new workplaces while remaining in the same industry and profession.
Get clear on your “back up singers”.
These are your second and third drivers. When a decision’s impact is neutral when put through your core driver filter, put it through the second and third. Let’s say they are Material Rewards and Power/Influence. Ask again: How will this decision impact my second driver? My third? Will it help satisfy it or is it in conflict with it? Is it neutral?
Why this works
It will help you focus. It allows for binary decision-making (yes/no). It helps comfort uncertainty which is what prevents you from making decisions in the first place.
So, take some time to get clear about what matters to you in your career, work and life. I promise, it can be a game changer.
Cheering you on!
Christine
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