Growth Mindset
This Pandemic has really upended the way we work, live and talk with one another. Today I have a very simple thought for you which I hope will inspire you a little bit to reflect and think about how you use your time and energy when it comes to the vision you have for your career.
Although it may seem as if you have lost control of some your aspects of career, you still have agency to succeed, there are things you can do to stay focused, to develop your skills. It is important to try and keep or develop a growth mindset because it will be people who can show how adaptable and agile they are in dealing with change and uncertainty that will really thrive whenever we reach and define what "new normal" looks like.
Aligned
This is my question for you, whatever stage of your career you are at: How aligned do you feel with what really motivates you and do you know what inspires you?
You may not have had the opportunity before, or given yourself the opportunity before, to think about these things as we are always switched on and busy 24/7. Many of our circumstances have now changed and we are definitely spending more time being rather than doing. We are experiencing pivotal moments and shifts brought on by this Big Pause we are all going through.
Drivers and Values
Understanding what is important to you, and aligning yourself with that, is going to be the thing that helps you make better and more nuanced career decisions. It will also help you navigate uncertainty and become more resilient in this very VUCA world: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous. Reflect on your career values and drivers. If you are not sure how to start, you can use the list below to help you identify your top 3 values - drill down into those core three which are non-negotiable when it comes to job satisfaction. These will act as a compass for your career.
- Acceptance
- Accountability
- Achievement
- Adventure
- Autonomy
- Bravery
- Community
- Collaboration
- Creativity
- Curiosity
- Expertise
- Friendship
- Growth
- Happiness
- Hard work
- Honesty
- Humility
- Ingenuity
- Innovation
- Integrity
- Kindness
- Knowledge
- Open communication
- Optimism
- Patience
- Peace
- Popularity
- Power
- Progression
- Quality
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Risk
- Routine
- Spirituality
- Stability
- Status
- Security
- Structure
- Success
- Tenacity
- Time management
- Money
- Work/life balance
YOU are the difference in your career!
This is how you prepare for the rest of your career and the "new normal" that is coming - by checking in with yourself every so often and aligning yourself with what is important to you. What you thought was important before Covid-19 may have changed and you will need adjust your career plan accordingly. There should be no judgement attached to that. Develop a more entrepreneurial mindset that can respond and embrace VUCA as well as anticipate and spot non-linear opportunities as they present themselves, opportunities that speak to the core of who you are and what the world needs. This will help you thrive, not just stay afloat in a VUCA world, this will help you face challenges with a more positive outlook, make effective decisions and build resilience.
So, what have you noticed or learned about yourself during this time of change?
