How to Find Personal Direction in Your Career

A recent conversation with a mentee trying to navigate the next steps in their career reminded me of an essential rule I always emphasize: You own your career, therefore you have to be in the driver's seat. They recently received some feedback from their manager that was confusing as it didn’t align with previous feedback. The conversation on next steps was very vague. Reality check: waiting for clear guidance or validation from others can leave you stuck in neutral. Instead, you must proactively manage your own career path. Here are a few things I suggested: 1. Do a Self-Assessment You need to understand your strengths, weaknesses, passions, and career aspirations. Identify what excites you and where you see yourself in the future. Remember they can all change due to new experiences and gaining new skillsets. 2. Seek Constructive Feedback While feedback from leadership is valuable, it’s important to triangulate. Reach out to mentors, peers, and others in your function that you admire for their insights. Feedback is just one piece of the puzzle. Use it as a tool for improvement, not as a definitive roadmap. You never know when you might run into an unconscious bias. 3. Continuous Learning and Development I’m ever curious and always looking for learning opportunities. Look for opportunities to learn from other functions. The business world is continusly changing, and staying on top of the game, requires investing time to learn. Stay informed about your current industry trends but also look for best practices in others. 4. Advocate for Yourself People can’t read your mind, so they don’t know what your career goals and aspirations are. Don’t be afraid to articulate them to your leadership. Express your interest in new projects, responsibilities, or roles that align with your goals. 5. Adaptability and Resilience Career paths are rarely linear. My own has been a lattice. Be adaptable. Embrace challenges and view setbacks as learning experiences. Being in the driver's seat of your career means taking an intentional role in your professional development. While others can give you guidance, the ultimate responsibility for your career lies with you. What else would you tell him?

We've all been there - myself included - when our job leaves us sick, scared, and looking for an exit. At the time, the weight of my confusion felt draining, my stress levels felt paralyzing, and nothing seemed to ignite even the faintest degree of passion in me. But even in these moments where we feel stuck, how often do we pause and deeply assess WHY? What I wish that someone had told me at that time was that the key to re-evaluating my career path was in understanding my own inner motivations and aligning them with my own actions. If this resonates, I want to share a strategy to help you understand your discontent and aspiration through my recent blog post titled "Using the 5 Whys to Re-Evaluate Your Career Path." The 5 Whys is a powerful tool borrowed from problem-solving methodologies, perfect for mission-driven professionals who are looking to find their next steps. This exercise will push you to go beyond the superficial and reach the root cause of your feelings. Here's a brief glimpse from one of my recent coaching conversations as an example: 1. WHY are you unhappy with your job? “I don’t feel engaged.” 2. WHY don’t you feel engaged? “Tasks are repetitive and don't challenge me.” 3. WHY do you want to be challenged? “It makes me feel like I’m growing and contributing.” 4. WHY is growth and contribution important to you? “They give me a sense of purpose and achievement.” 5. WHY do you need a purpose in your job? “I want my work to align with my personal values and passions.” From a vague sense of unhappiness to an eye-opening realization about alignment and values, this reflective process can be transformative. Once you've uncovered your core values through the 5 Whys, then it’s time to realign. Maybe it's autonomy or creativity that drives you. Or maybe your motivations lie in social impact. How can your career best cater to these values? Remember: your professional journey is not just about 'doing' but understanding 'why you do it'. In thinking about your own next steps, consider Steve Jobs’ advice: "The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle." 📌 Check out the full blog post for more insights: https://lnkd.in/eHJDUqDc Not sure how to use this exercise to reflect and realign? 📞I’d love to connect with you further on a complimentary call: https://lnkd.in/dZJ2Agzq Interested in other free career insights and job search advice?  📩 Subscribe here to my weekly newsletter: www.ki-coaching.com #CareerCoaching #5Whys #CareerChange #FindYourPurpose #SelfDiscovery #CareerCoach #FindYourWhy #FindYourWhy

Four out of five people I spoke with recently said they weren’t in what they’d define as their proverbial “dream job.” And nearly half said it rarely exists (usually only in retrospect). I’ve read that of the people starting off a new resolution to work out at the gym, 90% of these people will quit after three months. Building your own career path takes work, dedication and attention, and just like any workout, you may not see results immediately. By exploring the possibilities out there right now, you can take some intentional steps to find and pursue your passion: - Browse your company's internal career site to discover new areas of interest, build your skill set, and find potential mentors. - Check out the job boards of companies you admire to see how you can align your strengths and goals with their vision and values. - Join online groups and communities related to your field of interest to learn from experts, share insights, and get feedback on your work. - Reach out to hiring managers and recruiters to offer your skills and knowledge or connect them with great candidates you know. Building trust and rapport will show them your value and potential. By doing this consistently and proactively, you'll soon have a network of allies and advocates who'll reach out to you when they're looking for a great new team member. You'll also have a clearer sense of what you want and what you can offer, which will help build confidence and be better prepared for your next career move.

Here’s a simple but powerful idea that’s made all the difference in my journey. It’s about communicating - specifically, telling people about your plans and the path you want to take. I’ve learned never to be afraid or ashamed to express my ambitions openly. When you talk about your career goals to your employer, you invite them to join you on your professional journey, and in turn, they can become active participants in helping you get to where you want to be. Remember that this should always be a collaborative effort, keeping teamwork at the forefront instead of just making demands. Consider doing the following: Share Your Future Goals: Let them know where you want to be. Be transparent and set the bar. This will get you going on your way with a clear direction. Seek Guidance And Feedback: Ask what needs to happen and what milestones must be reached to achieve your goal. This shows that you’re eager and excited to grow and helps align your plan with the company’s vision. Pursue Continuous Improvement: If you ever find that you’re not yet ready for your goal, ask how to improve. Expressing this demonstrates your commitment and opens the door to honest feedback that challenges you to grow. It's about creating a roadmap together, so don't hesitate to communicate your aspirations openly. After all, growth is a collaborative effort, and by working together, you can easily bring your dreams to life. 

🆓 You are not stuck. (Hint: this is a post about limiting beliefs) The human experience's punchline is that we are all riddled with blind spots. It's nearly impossible to see ourselves clearly. What you believe that makes you feel stuck may simply be the internal story you've written to describe your career journey. That narrative you're repeating can be changed. Change your mind, change your life. If you're still with me, this may resonate with you. I'm hearing from many folks who are job-seeking and/or who are in roles that no longer inspire them, but they feel like they don't have other options. If this is you, you are not stuck. I promise you; you are not stuck. It is time to reimagine your story and change your mind. Ask yourself: ✴ What ELSE is true about you? ✴ How would your colleagues describe your strengths? ✴ What other types of roles or industries do your skills transfer to? ✴ What credentials can you pick up (like PMP, PHR, certificate programs, Linkedin Learning) that would help steer your story in a new direction? Leverage your network: ✳ Talk to folks who do what you want to do and learn more about their path to get there. ✳ Ask how they would describe your professional story. They may help you see it in a new light. ✳ Ask what they think you're best at and where to avoid focusing. ✳ Ask someone (or multiple someones) to be your mentor. ✳ Join networking groups and communities centered around things you would enjoy doing. ✳ Ask your immediate family and close friends for advice. They know you best, for better or worse. ✳ Join professional organizations where your professional peers gather. Grow your circle. Your network is everything. When you're feeling stuck, remember - this feeling DOES NOT make it true. It's your subconscious telling you it's time to change your perspective. Opportunities sometimes come from the most unexpected places. I'm cheering you on!