Inkling Coaching

Stop being strategic about your career
April 1st, 2012 by Gemma Munro | Category: working

    There is a breed of executive out there that goes for well-roundedness. ‘I’ve put in some time in finance/HR/consulting’, they say, ‘so now it must be time to really broaden my skills in general management’. Or ‘golly gosh, I know Asia Pacific inside out, so surely it’s time to seek out that post in Upper Bleeding, Sussex’.

    Whenever I hear something along these lines, I must confess to having all sorts of difficulty refraining from blowing a big raspberry.

    Well-roundedness is overrated. Being strategic about your career is overrated. Don’t get me wrong; you may well climb the ol’ corporate ladder successfully, but will your eyes light up when you go to work? Will you be as energetic and as purposeful and as successful as you could be? Nope. You will not.

    What to do instead? Focus on what you’re great at. Do as much of this as you possibly can. Say no to things that don’t interest you. Say no to opportunities that you may be good but not fabulous at.

    One of my coaching clients did just this last month. Her CEO handed her a plumb opportunity to work across the organisation – and more closely with him. She looked at the role. She realised that, strategically, it was a good move. But she also realised she would hate it. She could do it, but not as well or as energetically as she could do other things. She said no – and her CEO’s opinion of her rose even further.

    Here’s what I think. I bet you are smart, disciplined and valued by the people with whom you work. I bet you could take any opportunity and make a good fist of it. I bet you would even get promoted as a result. But herein lies the rub. If we do work we are OK at, and do a good job of it, we will get known for work we are only OK at. Our reputation will build in an area that has little to do with our purpose or our passion. And, because as humans we naturally seek progress, we will find it hard to take a step back from the rung we have reached and ‘start again’ doing work we love. This is when clever, proactive people start referring to themselves as stuck.

    So make a pact with yourself: seek out opportunities that energise you, not those that would be ‘good for your career’. This, I promise, will end up being the very best thing for your career you could ever do.

    • http://www.philosyphia.com NathanPralle

      I don’t fully disagree with you on this point — taking work simply for the mere fact of taking work is likely ridiculous and even stupid. But…that being said, sometimes for a career to jump to a higher level, it simply seems like you must resign yourself to, at some point or another, taking a job or a responsibility that — frankly — sucks, all so you can get to that next higher level where you are both laden with happiness for the job itself and with the responsibility and rewards of making a move for yourself.

      I hate to think that my career is somehow dead-ended simply because I can’t clearly see a position upwards that I adore with all my heart.

      • Gemma

        Hi Nathan. I get what you’re saying – and goodness knows, there are always things to be learned even when we’re doing something that – as you say – ‘sucks’. And if we’re convinced that the step above that is going to be fabulous, then perhaps it is worth it.

        It might not be the case for you, but for many people, when the position above them does not look at all enticing, it may be time to think about a new career altogether. Just a thought!

    • http://www.becomingthirty.wordpress.com/ Rhian

      Hi Gemma,

      Great insight. I have done this on many occasions, not neccesarily to further my career but because I felt obligated to take on extra responsibility or because I knew I could do the job well. Finally I have reached a place where I will no longer commit to something just to please others or because it is the next natural progression. I am now in a completely different field, in a role I adore!

      • Gemma

        Yay Rhian! What a marvellous place to be in; I bet you are enjoying yourself thoroughly.

    • Gemma

      Cath – what happened?!

    • Deirdreflynn2009

      This was an amazing help to me and I believe it to be so true.

      • inklingcoaching

        Thanks, Deirdre – so glad it was helpful (and looking forward to meeting you in June!)

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