As we embark on the beginning of the year, it is natural to contemplate the journey ahead. Planning for the future is essential, but it's equally important not to be overwhelmed by anxiety or fear of the unknowns that await us, hindering our actions.
Focusing on the career aspect, a successful professional journey doesn't happen by chance; it requires strategic planning for each step towards the final desired outcome.
Here's how you can effectively plan your professional (and not only) year, maintaining control, adaptability, and flexibility:
1. Set your guiding light
For the plan you will develop, you need a guide, a guiding light. Define your long-term goals and aspirations, remembering that it's okay if the entire path is not yet crystal clear. The guiding light should serve as a general direction rather than an absolute destination, allowing flexibility as you adapt to unforeseen challenges and opportunities.
2. Identify your skills and resources
Imagine being lost in the woods but having a map and compass to help you find your way. Similarly, assess your skills, experiences, and knowledge to guide your career journey. Record all the positive aspects you recognize in yourself, as well as the assets you possess. If you're having difficulty making decisions about certain aspects of your career, it may indicate that you don't have all the necessary information. Plan how to acquire the information and skills you need, and as you progress, you'll see what else is necessary to develop. Self-awareness serves as your compass, helping you make the most informed decisions for your career.
3. Start with small steps
Plan with flexibility, avoiding mapping out the entire path at once, as this effort usually leads to stress and procrastination. Focus on the next 2-3 steps. Break down each goal into smaller, manageable tasks that you can confidently tackle. This approach protects us from feeling overwhelmed, provides flexibility, and keeps us mobilized. Each time a step is completed, you can confidently plan and move on to the next.
4. Maintain a growth mindset
Stay open to unexpected opportunities and challenges, adapting your path as you gain new stimuli, knowledge, and experiences. Avoid, as much as possible, remaining rigid in your positions, ideas, and desires or becoming trapped in others' expectations. Be aware of where you are each time and continue your journey. This flexible approach brings greater dynamism and satisfaction to the evolution of our career and every aspect of our lives, without the oppressive psychological burden of a strictly predetermined outcome. Think about how often in the past you didn't reach exactly what you wanted but found another opportunity, perhaps even better, that you had the flexibility and curiosity to explore and follow... or maybe not?
Through the coaching approach we have designed and implement in each of our collaborations, we effectively activate the process of self-awareness and skill development for our clients. When an individual gains deep awareness of themselves, their strengths, and limitations, they acquire the confidence and ability to make the most suitable decisions for themselves and move confidently and safely to the next stages of their journey.
GROW coaching alliance | Career Coaching
Source: Forbes, Luciana Paulise | Adaptation-Enrichment: GROW coaching alliance