You are what you do - or are you? If there was a time to rethink what you want to be when you grow up, the current economy provides you with that opportunity. Sudden job loss and drastic organizational changes in the workplace allow for a chance to rethink who you are and look more closely at the new possible selves yearning for change.
These possible selves are your images and fantasies about who you hope to become, think you should become or even fear of becoming. This journey is at the heart of the career transition process.
You are What You Do
In this culture one forms her identity around her career and accomplishments. You identify people with their work. This allows you to organize your career around your accomplishments which is an effective tool for progress and getting things done. Once the job ends, however, you lose a piece of yourself and established identity.
The question is how do you rework your identity? Simply, by doing new things and meeting new people by telling and retelling your stories. But also, by allowing yourself the time and effort this discovery process requires.
Enjoy the Space in Between
One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to change careers is not to take the time to enjoy the space in between. Don’t look back to the past and don’t stress about the future. Just take a deep breath and just be.
Realize that change, any change is immanent and nothing lasts forever. Particularly not this transition phase that may have left you powerless and feeling out of control. Embrace the opportunity to reinvent yourself.
The second biggest mistake people make is to delay doing anything until they have settled into a destination. Or, alternatively, they will settle into a position which they hope will change everything while in fact changing nothing at all.
Shift Your Connections toward the Future
The desire to change is rarely only about the actual work one does. It is often equally and sometimes even more important about changing work relationships so they are more satisfying and more inspiring.
Shifting connections refers to the practice of finding people who can help you see and grow into your new self. To make a break from the past you must venture into new and unknown territory and networks – and not just for job leads.
Tell and Retell Your Story
In the middle of the confusion about which direction to take, you hope for one event that will clarify everything and magically transform your yearning for change into a reliable trajectory. While this may be the case for a lucky few, it is not the norm. Moreover, it is possible to generate your own triggers for change and instill events with special meaning by weaving them into your story.
Arranging your life events into a coherent story is powerful yet one of the most demanding challenges in your career transition. Without a story that explains your change, the people who you are pitching your new self remain in doubt, and you as well will feel unsettled and uncertain of your own identity.
Major career transitions can take a year or more. The discovery process necessary is difficult, confusing and filled with uncertainty. One of the hardest tasks during this process is to stay on course when you feel discouraged. There is only one alternative and that is to give up or not taking the steps to change at all. It takes some time to move from old to new but rediscovering your passion and finding new inspiration in your true self is worth the effort!
Britta Stromeyer Esmail - Britta is a bilingual business management professional and executive coach with extensive domestic and international experience in the ...
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