Today, I’m going to introduce you to a coaching trick. It’s actually an effective approach that can really help you help yourself. In simplified terms, it’s all about “meeting people where they are.” This month, in the world of career development AND self-coaching, I’m asking you to meet yourself wherever you are.
But wait . . . I have another BIG request: Recognize that it’s perfectly great to be exactly where you are or happen to be. And, where you happen to be could be any number of places. Now, that said, getting from point A to point B may require a bit of a shift in perspective.
To start with, all you need is a general idea and awareness of where you are, and I’m here to help out with that. But, who says we can’t have a bit of fun with this too, right? Let’s consider a few types of career explorers:
- The Procrastinator
- The Doubter
- The Go-Go-Go-Getter, and
- The Dazed and Confused
Perhaps you may see a bit of yourself in one or several of these characters at various times. I know I did when I was first careering back in the day! Well, okay, not THAT long ago really. Regardless, remember to meet yourself wherever you are. Acknowledge where that is, and determine what to do to move forward.
The Procrastinator
Procrastination is a big one for most, regardless of age. Almost everyone has procrastinated at some point over something. We’ve all had moments where we just kept putting off completing certain tasks or taking action on important goals. Rest assured, there’s usually an underlying reason. It could stem from uncertainty, busyness, or simply not being crazy about what it is you need to do. Ask yourself why you may be procrastinating. For example, if you don’t like a particular task, own that you don’t like it then set aside time to complete it anyway if it’s something you have to get done.
One trick I use that really works well is celebrating once I complete an assignment. Ways I like to celebrate include having a quick chat with a friend I’ve been wanting to call, going for a walk and sitting by my favorite nature spot, or reading the next chapter of a book I’m into. Figure out whatever works best as your own personal celebration.
Also, recognize that sometimes you may not want to do something at a certain time but you can be just as productive doing something else at that moment. The only thing is to remember to schedule the task in the near future while being mindful of deadlines.
In my world, it’s a condition of being human. Despite what you may hear, being a “procrastinator” is not about the person you are but rather where you are at a specific time. The idea is not to make it a right-wrong or good-bad conversation. Also, know that you have at your fingertips a lot of available career resources. It’s all about carving out and setting aside time to research and learn.
The Doubter
Having doubts is a normal part of decision-making, especially when what you’re addressing is new. The good news is that doubts can happen no matter if you’re a career exploration first-timer or seasoned professional looking for a new career path. Think of doubts as a way we’re signaling to ourselves that we need to investigate our options further. The action item here is to research and gather additional information for a more informed decision.
The key is first to recognize that your doubts may be leading to hesitation. Take a moment to consider why you may be having these doubts. Sometimes, you’ll easily be able to dismiss the doubts. Other times, upon exploration, you may discover that your doubts are based on valid concerns. If so, you can adjust accordingly and research further to decide your next steps. Still other times, you may be able to put your doubts aside and dive right into career exploration.
The Go-Go-Go-Getters
There’s also the other side of things. Plenty of times you may have a particular path in mind and stay hyperfocused on that one career avenue with a singular goal of completing it and moving on. Trouble is, although you may be well on your way, you inadvertently may be so laser-focused that you may miss other opportunities. It could be a profession or career path you might not have considered as an option. Think of it like this: It’s as if you’re driving or running and are so far down the road that you don’t realize until you’ve reached your destination that you forgot something important at home.
The best approach is not only to look at all your options but also to pace yourself. Now’s exactly the time, when you have time, to really explore things in greater depth. Part of self-coaching is to be able to allow yourself time to sit with what you discover and figure out what does and doesn’t work for you. If your go-go-go-getting goal is to breeze through the one path and be done, you may just be ruling out a dream job you may not know about—unless you’ve taken the time to thoroughly explore.
The Dazed and Confused
Perhaps you don’t know where, how, or what to start and may even feel like giving up. Other times, it may seem like there are so many options, it can be overwhelming. You may be feeling pulled in several career directions at once.
But that’s one of the greatest parts about career exploration. It’s just that . . exploration. That means there should be absolutely no pressure to choose an exact career that sticks right out of the gate. And there’s no need to pick and choose if you have many career possibilities you’re considering. You can look into however many you’d like in a mindful, sane, and paced manner.
The key here is to pick a point—any point—and begin from there, especially in a case like this when you’re exploring, as I mentioned before. Know what’s even cooler about this process? Sure, you already know that you’ll narrow down career paths you’re most interested in. But guess what? What you’re not interested in may offer valuable insight too. For example, what or why you don’t like something can help you identify the components you don’t like and can rule out. Yep, it’s the process of elimination!
Wherever you are is a perfect point to start exploring. After all, you don’t know what you don’t know. Exploring your career interests and options can help you determine the impact, influence, and difference you want to make and how to your contribution in your particular way.
Here’s the main thing to walk away with is this: No matter where you are, remember that it’s perfectly fine to start from there . . . and most importantly, stay the course of careering!
