In my last article, we talked about the hidden costs of not taking action and how staying in fear, indecision, doubt and inaction can severely stifle our career growth over time.
The reason why it can be so challenging to move away from the status quo is that our brain tends to be very resistant to change.
The primitive part of our brain that many people call our “lizard brain” is wired to keep us in the cave and away from predators.
These days, in our modern society, we don’t need to be kept in a cave but that part of brain often runs the show and tries to keep us “safe” by creating thoughts and emotions that cause us to shy away from taking actions that would cause major changes to our status quo.
The reality is that in order for us to grow in different areas of our lives, we need to actively manage our brain and our thinking to create the change that will lead to reaching our goals.
Now let’s apply this to our careers and how we can manage our brain to help us determine if we should pursue a new position and, how to get ourselves in motion if we decide to move forward.
How do you decide if it’s time to seek out a new position?
You want to carefully examine your reasons for wanting to make a change or for staying where you are.
In the coaching world, we suggest that we “clean up” our thinking around the reasons for wanting to make a change.
This requires us to really look at our inner thoughts and motivations to make sure we’re not simply trying to escape a situation that could simply rear itself again with a new position for example.
My master coach likes to describe it this way:
You should love your current job before you leave for another.
This may sound counter intuitive but I agree with her.
It’s not always the easiest thing to do but, by feeling loving and grateful for the job we have now, we can make better decisions on our next career move.
We can make sure we’re at peace with our reasons for leaving. We can leave with no regrets and a sense that this relationship (with this job) is complete.
This line of thinking sets us up for success with our next endeavour and ensures we leave our current job on good terms too.
Once you’re clean and clear on seeking out a new role, it’s time to focus on your search!
Where do you start?
First, you want to clearly set the intention for your job search, for the type of role you’re seeking and the type of company you want to work for.
Clearly define for yourself the new role in terms of the following:
- Your overall career goals
- Stage in your career
- Desired company culture
- Personal/family life, work/life balance
- Location
- Work conditions
- Compensation, perks
- Anything else that’s important to you
Once you have that clarity, you’ll be in a much better place to put a job search in motion and evaluate opportunities with the lens of exactly what you’re looking for.
Clarity drives thoughts and feelings that inspire action that lead us to living the life of our dreams, including our dream job and career!
If you’re contemplating making your next career move but aren’t 100% sure if it’s your next best step, I invite you to book a strategy session with me.
Click here for details and to get right on my calendar!
