There are two requests I get all the time: 1) Clarity on the big picture, and 2) A roadmap to get there. There is one more element that is key. It’s to have the confidence to activate the first two. My clients (you!) are mostly high-achievers. In reality, you don’t want someone to tell you what you want or provide the roadmap. You want the understanding and confidence to do it yourself. What has emerged from our work together is a philosophy I call Career Clarity and it consists of three parts:
- Impact: Beyond having a list of strengths, have the calm confidence of knowing the impact you have on your team, organization, friends and family
- Initiative: Have the courage to act, and the resilience that comes with experience
- Influence: Know the rules of communication and interaction so you can anticipate others’ behavior and negotiate your way
Career Clarity grew from working with ambitious professionals who initially wanted to find a new job. When they truly embraced what they excel at and how it fits in the big picture, starting acting from their point of view, and learned to manage communication, the influence they enjoyed allowed them to be less frustrated and happier. They were free to make their own choices. The difference was dramatic. Nearly half my clients stayed in their jobs and earned several promotions. Those who did change jobs found that the work they did with me allowed them to lead better wherever they go. Part leadership development, part career and life strategy, Career Clarity provides the freedom to be in charge of your destiny. It’s subtle, but critical. When you know what you want and are negotiating it, you are not just blindly doing that looks good on paper. That critical difference brings focus, balance and success.
“Leadership belongs to those who take it.” Sheryl Sandberg
What if this spring could be about stepping up and taking charge of a bigger game for yourself. As a starting point, will you ask yourself:
- Do I know my top three strengths? How do they help my colleagues, friends and family?
- When I feel nervous about what I think, do I speak up or hang back?
- On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable am I about predicting people’s behavior?
I feel my ambitions growing as spring is on the horizon. How about you?