What are the most common challenges in creating a career legacy?

Sometimes incredible professionals need to give themselves permission to do a personal strategic retreat - whether they are working in an intense full time role or in transition. Clarity can take time and allowing yourself to be quiet, journal, go kayaking or otherwise reflect can lead to an openness for a process of self-discovery. Exercise: try journaling - start with whatever is on your mind and then at the end write down 1 or 2 things you are grateful for. Being in a positive mindset can open up many possibilities and a new clarity.

“Lack of clarity” is a valuable, but still quite murky first insight, in the process of tackling one’s challenges in creating a career legacy - but what clarity are we talking about? As a coach I’ll ask, “What does clarity in your career look like for you?” and “How would you know that you have created a career legacy?” Then I support the clients to take a deep dive into their conscience, their values, in order to first sort out and envisage what kind of person they actually want to become. Only if they know what type of person they want to become in the long run, they will be able to chart a promising career path which is in line with that person they want to become – and that will ensure a meaningful career, leaving a legacy behind.

Bases on my years of Coaching, lack of clarity often is a result of: 1. Fanatical focus on ‘doing’. Which is all about speed, making things happen & staying busy. Result of which is that ‘being’ is severely compromised. Space where one connects with self, pauses, introspects, realigns their focus, figures their life purpose & ways to create & leave a legacy. 2. Not having a sounding board. One who’s unbiased. A person who is neither scared nor involved with you beyond the scope of coaching. Coz they’ll give you perspectives, get you to defog your mind, see things & set goals differently. This person (often your coach) will continually talk to you about impact & value you are creating. Lives you are touching. Legacy you are building!

- Construcción de una reputación sólida: Crear y mantener una reputación profesional positiva lleva tiempo y esfuerzo. Es necesario demostrar consistencia, integridad y excelencia en el trabajo para ganarse el respeto y la confianza de colegas, clientes y empleadores. - Desarrollo de habilidades y competencias: Para dejar un legado duradero en tu campo, es crucial seguir aprendiendo y desarrollando habilidades relevantes. Esto puede implicar participar en programas de formación, obtener certificaciones adicionales o buscar oportunidades de mentoría y desarrollo profesional.

First you need to to have a clear vision developed from scanning to identify the difference between a fad and a real cultural shift. Then, using foresight, to build an agile business plan and adaptive mindset to capitalize on changing reality, leading the charge not waiting to see what others are doing. The legacy comes when you confidently challenge the status quo to stimulate a lasting change and witness that tipping point that tells you your influence has made a a genuine difference

“Lack of confidence in what?”, is the first question I will ask my clients. If it’s all about self-confidence, the next questions might be, “What is going on inside you (and outside of you) in situations when this feeling of being “non-confident” arises? As per my experience the feeling of being non-confident usually arises when we do or say things which are not in line with our innermost values, so we actually act against our own better wisdom, our inner “value-voice” and conscience. Acting mindfully in accordance with our conscience, our inner organ of detecting what is meaningful or not – provided it has not been overshadowed by excessive indoctrination and fear – our confidence will arise naturally.

With my clients I’ve discovered people aren’t necessarily in their right place so everything is a treadmill. My own story of near death in the mountains helped me focus my mind and now I use that. Are you on the right mountain? What if you changed your path and took another mountain range? One that you truly love, respect and enjoy. Once you have worked out the right path the legacy of your adventure is naturally created and who knows what it will be- you’re not there yet. Yes there will be fears but none so much as staying in a rigid and sometimes toxic place.

A falta de confian?a pode ser um grande obstáculo na jornada da carreira, mas o seu contrário pode ser um aliado indispensável no crescimento profissional. As pessoas se aproximam pela credibilidade e confian?a dos profissionais e com isto você terá grandes possibilidades de estar sempre em projetos de destaque nas organiza??es.

You have to love a bit of fear and how it manifests itself in people. I have experienced some amazing people, who have an innate fear that smashes their confidence. This self destruction generates limiting phrases of "it's not for me" "i'm not meant to be successful" "Im always making a mess of things". The reality being the opposite but the easy natural focus is to what is not working rather than what is. I always advise people to start being grateful. Is it a coaching skill? maybe not but it can have huge impact on a person and their approach to options. Every night before bed, lie there and verbalise all the small things you are grateful for: waking up, a bed, a roof, water etc etc. soon enough you realise how amazing you are.

So often clients express that they’d like more confidence, and yet on examination, what we often find if that the confidence is there, it’s just that they’re keeping it out! They often do this because they’re not actually that comfortable feeling it!.. even though they say they want it! 2 key practices to allow your confidence to shine are: 1. Focusing on your ‘Gain’, i.e. what you have created in your career, rather than constantly putting yourself in the ‘Gap’ of what you haven’t yet created. 2. Talking to yourself, rather than listening to yourself. Too much listening and you’ll find that you’ll end up speaking to the ‘Chimp’! If you talk to yourself then you’ll get the opportunity to create yourself, including your confidence.

If we find it difficult to build our own career, we might actually lack the ability to positively influence and inspire others. More often than not this has to do with our own state of being lost in confusion and doubt about a meaningful way forward. In such cases we should remind ourselves of Kofi Annan’s famous quote: “To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.” If we can communicate such clarity about our way forward, and – provided it is based on compassionate values - we will definitely increase our sphere of influence.

Um passo fundamental para a cria??o de influência, é o desenvolvimento de habilidades que maximizam a capacidade de influenciar. O domínio de técnicas de comunica??o, escuta ativa, empatia e profundo domínio do tema que deseja influenciar, devem ser constantemente avaliados e desenvolvidos por quem deseja criar um legado e influenciar.

Influence is the capacity to have an effect. What is the best way to have an effect? By your contribution in solving problems. To have a legacy, make strong contributions. Working with a coach to make plans to live out your purpose will lead to making meaningful and impactful contributions.

In crafting a career legacy, cultivating influence is key. It's about inspiring, engaging, and collaborating with others to realize your vision. This involves honing communication, leadership, and relationship skills. Through coaching, individuals can refine their storytelling abilities, enhance listening and feedback skills, and foster a collaborative and innovative culture.

All you need is your differentiator. Your differentiator is the amalgamation of your core competencies and your value proposition, which makes you a top notch professional. With consistency and genuine intent, you will be part of great differences along the way, which result in your great career legacy.

Being aware of the latest industry trends and analysing the likely impact will always add value to the solutions you design. I have found that the most creative and adaptable leaders are those who constantly think of alternate ways of doing things and are tolerant of mistakes.

Coaching a client who wants to change, to adapt, or has come under pressure to adapt to new circumstances, I would ask, “What does adaptation mean to you?” and “What is the real challenge here for you?” And then I’ll keep on asking (probably at least two more times), “What else?” People then often realize that they are actually afraid of change, of losing something, or losing some part of their identity”, so I will follow up, “If you are saying yes to this (the change), what are you saying no to?” This process creates a more and more detailed picture of the “adaptation issue”, and rather sooner than later we would both realize which of the client’s values are driving or hindering the process of change – and that’ a great start!

As an executive leadership coach, recognizing the significance of overcoming the obstacle of adaptation deficiency when crafting a lasting professional legacy is paramount. True adaptation necessitates a shift in mindset—an openness to change and uncertainty as avenues for advancement and creativity. Through coaching, collaboration is fostered to cultivate agility, creativity, and inquisitiveness, enabling individuals to maneuver through disruptions, capitalize on openings, and leave a profound impact on their professional trajectory.

Is this just change? It is well known that change has a range. Those at one end who just love it! and those at the other end who ask oh why cant it just stay the same and of course there is everyone in between. Being agile, being able to adapt, being able to recognise the benefits are all important parts of a growth mindset. Let's take it back to basics and excuse the generalised simplicity but if we didn't adapt and learn maybe we would still be crawling on our hands and knees. Calling out the obstacle of change in a coaching session brings it to life, but makes it a great topic to focus on in the next sessions. And it's here we really start to get into the what the client would really love to be, and then we get cracking with how!

It is very difficult to adapt when VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) is looming in your horizon. Work with your coach to unpack: - What your adaptation means to you? - What will it give you? - How will it serve you? Your coach will help pique your curiosity about scanning and understanding your environment; whether by conducting your personal internal analysis (SWOT) or external analysis (PESTLE). It is key to understand that as you adapt, various traits that make up your character will be tested, e.g. resilience, agility, emotional intelligence, and many others.

I’m a bit hesitant about the usefulness and meaning of the term “creating a career legacy”. The term is full of vain self-reflection, constantly being worried about not becoming famous or being applauded to. It’s like our focus and our love is always bent backwards on ourselves – but the door of love, fulfilment, and meaning opens outwards, not inwards. Fact is, your career and you as a person are not two different things – if you feel that’s the case, you better take a closer look.

Let me reframe "creating a career legacy" into the expression we used at Procter & Gamble: "building the business" and "building the organization". If you do both, you'll be serving your organization and your people well.

Beyond fostering openness and curiosity, integrating mindfulness can enhance awareness and reduce reactivity to new challenges. Building resilience is key, preparing individuals to face change with strength. Encourage practices like gratitude to shift perspectives towards opportunity and abundance. These elements cultivate a holistic approach to personal growth, making individuals more receptive to embracing change. Mindfulness, resilience, and gratitude together enrich the journey towards an open mindset, unlocking potential for innovation and adaptability in both personal and professional realms.

The important questions to ask ourselves are: Am I doing what I really like to do? Am I doing what is aligned with my values and how I want to contribute to life? Or Am I just doing what I am good at and what people tell me I can do? The answers to these questions can give us reasons as of why we are not creating a legacy in our careers.

Legacy only happens if you last long enough to have a big impact. Exercise regularly Eat well Prioritise sleep Minimise stress That’s the key to better longevity in life and career. Take the energy from taking care of yourself and use it as a springboard for building a long lasting legacy.