Own your Career Path

Take control of your working future. Today

Some people know what they want in their career, and have the opportunity to make it happen.

Many people are uncomfortable admitting that something needs to change.

This presentation is for them.

What holds people back from trying to make a change at work?

I asked friends, and here were some of the answers I received:

“There is a fear of being viewed as "needy" and that translating into being a less valuable member of the team, or not as hard of a worker. There is still a perception that asking for anything makes you a demanding employee who will get passed over for advancement in favour of a more "dedicated" worker.”

“My biggest fear is rocking the boat and "being fired"... I really like working with clients and I’m scared I’ll get marked as a boat rocker if I bring up issues with my boss... I feel like I can put up with the shitty stuff because the idea of being an office outcast is of greater concern. I don't want my boss to think I’m a trouble maker in case it impacts my chances of getting a good reference in the future.”

Change Feels Risky

Common issues that prevent people from trying to make change happen:

•Inertia•Uncertainty•Negative mindsets•Fear

Inertia

“I could try, but it will be a lot of work”

Sometimes, it feels easier to not do anything

When I ask myself, “who are the happiest people on the planet?” my answer is, “Those who can’t wait to wake up in the morning to get back to what they were doing the day before.”

-James Cronin, Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, 1980

Connecting your goals with bigger ambitions and purpose in your life will help overcome inertia

Uncertainty

“I could make a change, but I don’t know what I really want”

“Happiness depends on one being exactly fitted to the nature of one’s work”-Alexis Carrel

Negative MindsetS

“I’m not good enough.”“It’s too hard to achieve what I want.”“This is for other people, but not me.”“I could never be as good as...”“With my circumstances, I could

never...”

A human being is never what he is but the self he seeks.-Octavio Paz

Tools from Positive Psychology like training your “PQ” (see www.PositiveIntelligence.com), and gratitude are tools that will help shift mindset challenges.

Humor and play are also valuable.

FEAR

“My family need me to work. I have bills to pay. I can’t risk loosing my job over wanting something different”

“My boss will think less of me for wanting more time off. I’ll never be able to get a promotion.”

“To get that role requires me to work a lot of overtime, and I won’t have the time I want with my family.”

“What if I fail?”

“Just take a risk. Go for it. I think if you crash and burn trying, it’s still going to be better than if you never tried at all.”

-Roderick MacKinnon

You know how you feel. Are you happy?

The cost of inaction is simple:

Keeping everything the same.

It's a cultural instinct to wait to get picked. To seek out the permission and authority that comes from a publisher or talk show host or even a blogger saying, "I pick you." Once you reject that impulse and realize that no one is going to select you--that Prince Charming has chosen another house--then you can actually get to work.If you're hoping that the HR people you sent your resume to are about to pick you, it's going to be a long wait. Once you understand that there are problems just waiting to be solved, once you realize that you have all the tools and all the permission you need, then opportunities to contribute abound.

No one is going to pick you. Pick yourself.-Seth Godin, from: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/03/reject-the-tyranny-of-being-picked-pick-

yourself.html

You, being happy and engaged matters to your workplace, whether they know it, or not.

Only 30% of US Employees are “Engaged” in their jobs*

*Stat provided by Gallup from: http://www.gallup.com/businessjournal/183614/employees-responsible-engagement.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication

If you are actively disengaged at work you will (likely):

•Dread going to work•Have more negative interactions than positive with your team members•Treat your customers poorly•Tell your friends you work for a miserable company•Achieve less on a daily basis•Have fewer positive and creative moments•Have higher risk of health complications or mental health challenges

Source: Tom Rath, StenghtsFinder 2.0, published 2007 by Gallup Press

“Engaged Employees begin their day with a sense of purpose, and finish it with a sense of achievement.”

Source: http://www.gallup.com/businessjournal/183851/employees-germany-engaged.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication

Engaged Employees have more:•Determination•Energy•Resiliency•Enthusiasm•Positive Interactions at work, and with customers•Well Being•Healthy Lifestyles•Better Health OutcomesSource: Tom Rath, StenghtsFinder 2.0, published 2007 by Gallup Press

Engaged Employees create real results for the company, are more profitable, productive, have a better customer focus, have fewer quality defects and a lower turnover rate.

Change your role if you aren’t engaged!

It makes business sense, and it will improve your health and well-being.

(I’ve just given you the information to share with a doubting manager!)

Change doesn’t have to be big to have a meaningful impact on your experience at work.

Often, its about making your own opportunities, rather than waiting to be picked.

Without picking up your pen, draw four straight lines that go through all nine dots only once.

“Our brains create rules for reality that we do not think we can break.”Source: Before Happiness, Shawn Achor, Published by Crown Business, 2013.

Change challenges us to

outside of the box.

THINK

“But, what if I don’t even know what I want to do?”

Step One: Get a clear view of your present reality

Write out an answer to the question:

What is work like for you right now?

Example (an extremely negative one anyway):

I’ve got way more work than one person can possibly accomplish. I am so stressed that it’s impacting my health. And I just lost a major account with a client.

Look at what you’ve written – you have likely only focused on one perspective? Using only TRUE statements, offer an alternative description of that exact same situation.i.e. If you are working hard on a task, are you growing from facing challenges? Have you built new relationships while trying to solve a specific problem?

I’ve got way more work than one person can possibly accomplish.

I have been given a lot of authority and responsibility which will help my career.

I am so stressed that it’s impacting my health.

Through this struggle I have built strong friendships with my team as we work together.

I just lost a major account with a client.

That client was taking 90% of my time for only 20% of revenue – now I have time to better serve my other clients who are better relationships.

Write out a third version that does not mention any of the details from the first two realities.

Adding vantage points will help you see new possibilities to pounce on, new client needs to fulfill, new business leads to explore, and new solutions to problems... And what’s more, looking at reality from different angles will not only allow you to open your eyes to a broader range of opportunities, ideas and solutions, but also help you connect more deeply with your team, organization and family.Source: Shawn Achor, Before Happiness, Pg 41

Used under Creative Commons License: Rob Ketcherside

Step Two:Define your Values, and map your “Meaning-Markers”

“Our values serve as a compass pointing out what it means to be true to oneself. When we honor our values on a regular and consistent basis, life is good and fulfilling.”Source: The Coaches Training Institute.

Give yourself some time (minimum 15 minutes uninterrupted), and write out answers to the questions on the following page.

1) Write down a list of all of the people that inspire you. Beside their names, write down all of the reasons why.

2) Describe a time in your life when you were fully alive and present – what were you doing? Who was around you?

3) What are all the topics and ideas that excite you, that you choose to learn more, and practice more simply because you are fascinated.

4) What is your greatest ambition? What is your greatest fear?

5) What makes you angry? (look for values that are being suppressed)

After you’ve written down your answers, look for repeat words, or words that make you “feel something”.

Sample Values List:

AchievementAdventureAmbitionBalanceBeing the bestBelongingBoldnessChallengeCommunityCompassionCompetitionContinuous ImprovementContributionCreativityCuriosityDependabilityDeterminationDiscipline

EfficiencyEleganceEmpathyExcellenceFocusFreedomFunGenerosityHard WorkHealthHelping SocietyHonestyHonorHumilityIndependenceLeadershipLoyaltyMaking a difference

MasteryOriginalityPeacePositivitySelf-actualizationSelf-controlSelflessnessSelf-relianceSimplicitySpontaneityStrengthSuccessTeamworkUniquenessVitality

Step 3:Discover your Strengths

If you don’t know your strengths, consider following:

1) Gallup StrengthsFinder Test ($10)2) UPENN Values In Action Character St

rengths Test (Free)

3) Hire a coach to help you!

In addition to the previous page, you can also explore the questions on the next page, to try and uncover your strengths in the same way you looked for your values.

1) What do people thank you for?2) What do you love helping people with?3) What are you ridiculously good at?4) What are you most proud of

accomplishing in your life? How did you ensure that you were successful?

5) When facing a challenge that you don’t know if you can complete, how do you want to approach it?

Step 4:Set Meaningful Goals

Using your perspectives, values and strengths as a guide:

What do you want your career to look like in Six Months?

Make goals as concrete as possible. Choose goals that can be measured, and you can hold yourself accountable to.

For any goal that doesn’t have a direct action (like “get a promotion), what “habits” do you want to cultivate to support achieving that goal?

Examples:If you want to write a book – write 1000 words a day.If you want to learn a language, practice 15 minutes every day.If you need new skills for a promotion, devote one hour every week to practicing them outside of work.

Create Accountability–Tell your friends/partner/spouse–Get your manager on side to

support you–For every concrete action – put it

on the calendar.

Then, the best way forward is:

DO THE WORK

Step 5:Regularly Evaluate Your Progress

Set regular intervals (for example, every three months) to evaluate goals, actions and the present reality – Are things shifting, changing? Do your targets need an update? Are things moving forward? Do you feel stuck and need to reset?

Goals serve as direction for forward motion – they aren’t what’s important. If in Six Months you haven’t perfectly hit them all, it’s not a sign of failure. It’s an opportunity to learn from what has worked, and what hasn’t.

Keep focused on how you are honoring your values, and using your strengths.

Bonus Step:Celebrate Your Wins!

Look for small victories, and build on that. Each small victory, even if it is just getting up 5 minutes earlier, give you confidence. You realize that these little victories make you feel great, and you keep going. You realize that being paralyzed by fear of failure is worse than failure...

-Arnold Schwarzenegger

This work isn’t easy. There’s a reason why so many people have dedicated their efforts to this work. Find a few friends who want to join along with you as you experiment, challenge yourself, and work towards your next better self.

Hard work does not necessarily guarantee success, but no success is possible without hard work.-Dr. T. P. Chia

Created by Jim Mondry for Jim Mondry CoachingFind more at: JIMMONDRY.COM

Twitter: @Jim_Mondry

Thank You