“Change” is the big word right now. It almost seems like everybody wants everything to be different. The old way just won’t work anymore.
With a few of my clients, the focus on change has been forced upon them. One person said: “Gosh, I’ve never even had to look for a job in my whole life, and here I am right now, worried about Interviewing Skills—a thing that has never been one of my concerns. For years, I’ve interviewed people, but here I am suddenly worrying about how I’m going to come across in an interview.”
Another client, connected with a Real Estate conglomerate, abruptly found himself wondering about what to do next in his career life. For fifteen years, this concern had not been anywhere near his radar screen, and now it is paramount. Interviewing has convinced him that he doesn’t want to be in another corporate environment, and he is negotiating now to buy a franchise. It’s not just any franchise, but one that has a mandate to do good things in the healthcare field. “I never thought that this would happen in my career life. I have a whole different perspective on work/life balance now. The world I create for my children is perhaps even more important right now than the world I put together for myself.”
In some other cases, people are just waking up and saying: “Is this what I want to do for the rest of my working life?” The next step is then moving into the discovery of “what next”.
There is a real art to positioning yourself for a move into a new career direction. This is often where a Career Coach comes in—somebody to guide the process, act as a sounding board, and keep one focused. It’s definitely a step by step process, and if done right, will make the transition move to a successful conclusion. You will be on a new path, but it won’t necessarily be easy. Should the process lack focus, you are in trouble. Be sure to aim at doing it right.
So what do you do if that nagging feeling that “it’s time for a change” hits you in the career arena?
First, listen to the message. Think it through logically. Is this really the time? Do you have a huge list of unfilled dreams? What are the economic parameters that must be examined? Who can you trust to give you honest advice and information? What first steps can be taken right now, perhaps while you are still employed? How much of a risk taker are you, or can you be? Will you have support of family and friends? See, the list can go on and on.
Sound like a lot? It is. And this is when it can be really helpful to pick a coach to accompany you through this career change transition adventure. Some time back, I wrote an article for this space giving the criteria for choosing a coach. There are many factors to be considered, but I think two things are critical.
First, pick someone you like—even if this “liking” is only over the telephone. Research the Internet, and you can find lots of coaches to talk to about your specific needs. Do they listen? Are they really “hearing” you? Do you like what they tell you about protocol? Do a price comparison. Cheaper, by the way, is not necessarily the way to go. Can you feel comfortable talking to this person?—perhaps for a long time.
Secondly, look carefully at credentials. Some coaches are therapists, or have been in that profession. That’s okay, if it’s what you need. I myself am not a therapist, rather a pragmatic business person. My work background encompasses years of work in retained executive search, both as a sole proprietor and as a member of prestigious firms. All this means is that I have a certain understanding and approach to the world of work. Some clients love this and need it, others don’t. My background makes me an ace at Interview Training, for I’ve been interviewing people for a long time. Sometimes something like this can be very important.
Look carefully at a coach’s protocol. Do you feel comfortable with how the process with proceed? For instance, it is indeed important whether you will be working face to face with a coach, or having telephone sessions. While I do both modalities in my practice, some coaches either do one or the other. Or perhaps your comfort level will be higher with one way of working rather than the other.
It doesn’t mater what your criteria are for picking a coach, but be sure you do have all this in order. You are establishing a relationship that distinctly impacts your personal and economic life. The decision needs to be made with intelligent thought and focus on your future. All of this is also a matter of timing. There is a right time, and sometimes a wrong time, to go into a career transition mode. And, sometimes—you will have no control over when change happens. You can simply be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and your life changes forever.
Change is wonderful, though. Sometimes we fight it every step of the way, finding that in the end, it was the best thing that ever happened to us. Look at it this way: we do indeed need to be mindful of making lemonade out of any apparent lemon thrown our way. Everything is really in perfect order, and you have the power to make it that way.
Beth Ross, Ph.D.
Career and Executive Coach
www.bethross.com
212-876-1759
beth@bethross.com
