The Secret Weapon For Career Success
“Coaching is not new, but it is changing shape and growing fast. Two or three years ago it was mainly a remedial business, a helping hand for the manager who was not quite making it. Now it is something the high-flyer cannot afford to be without.” The Sunday Times
Executive coaches are usually former high-level executives themselves. They don’t actually make decisions for those they are coaching but use their position as external and impartial third parties, as well as their own experience, to give advice and create a non-judgemental, non-political space for clearer decision making.
In today’s fast changing and unpredictable workplace, even the most confident individuals wonder “what’s facing me around the corner”, “where do I fit”, and “what’s my future here…” Often the answers to these questions are not forthcoming – and many executives are turning to Coaching for support.
With only one goal in mind – to unconditionally support their client – it is understandable why more and more career decisions are being made with the help of a coach.
Recent research from Monster.com provided a startling statistic – “75% of people are unhappy at work … but only 50% are prepared to do anything about it”.
If you are reading this article, then you are already more than half way towards creating your success.
So what is it that you want most? A more satisfying career? Increased income? More responsibility? More time to spend with your family? To build a business of your own? And how do you get your career success in place?
There are 7 key steps you can take to help you achieve the success you deserve in your career:
1. Self Analysis – think about what you are passionate about. What are your values? What really matters to you? What do you most want from your career?
2. Your Natural Talents – what skills do you enjoy using? (don’t list all your skills, just the ones you really enjoy). What are you really interested in? What is your most desired work environment?
3. Self Belief – It’s easy to forget that you can take control of your own future. The most successful people you know probably love what they do, give it their best, and would do it even if they weren’t paid for it… if they are able to achieve this, then so are you.
4. Action Plan – break the plan into small manageable steps. As each step is completed, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence which fuels a feeling of “being on a roll”.
5. Don’t Stop – it will be exhilarating and uncomfortable. You will have good days and bad days. When you hit those bad days, don’t stop! Countless executives on the brink of success fail only because they stopped trying too soon.
6. Time – work on your career plan at regular intervals (e.g. every Wednesday evening/ Sunday afternoon). By creating a degree of consistency in your time-plan, you will more easily avoid those temptations to get distracted.
7. Support – most successful executives do not pursue their goals in a vacuum. They have someone to give them feedback, encouragement and ideas. That individual should help keep you on track.
Many senior executives say that spending a few sessions with a coach has had a real impact on their careers. “Barbara Cassani, former chief executive of Go the low cost airline, said her coach was her ‘secret weapon’” The Sunday Times.
Creating your desired career is difficult. You can sometimes forget this when the going gets tough. By accepting it, you can learn to use each obstacle or challenge as an opportunity to learn something new.
By Ben Leon
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