What do you do if your career decisions are leading to potential risks?

Working in the U.S. many careers are are at risk of ending without a moments notice and potentially with a very small safety net. We're seeing this with a number of larger tech companies right now. I like to live by a few rules. 1.) Nothing is guaranteed; so don't be surprised if things change in away you didn't expect. 2.) Dynamic , risky situations always offer a chance to grow and acquire new skills to adapt. 3.) Grow and maintain a healthy and current network so when risks arise you have alternatives as well as mentors for help. There are always risks and having to tools to manage them is the key to sustained security.

Assessing your career decisions for potential risks is crucial for long-term success. By thoroughly evaluating the risks involved, you can make informed choices, anticipate challenges, and implement strategies to mitigate those risks. This proactive approach not only safeguards your career but also fosters adaptability and resilience in the face of uncertainties. Remember, thorough assessment leads to informed decisions, which are essential for achieving your professional goals and navigating through dynamic and unpredictable environments.

Understand what are the potential risks, it could be financial risk, profile risk or learning risk. Once the risk is identified, create a small plan for 3 months and work on it. Creating plans for next 4-5 years usually does not work as technologies evolve at a breakneck speed. There is story naval said in a podcast, it goes like a man has climbed a mountain 1/4 maybe, suddenly he realises that to get above he has to go down and choose another path. That’s where people do not want to continue, to climb up sometimes you have to go down and change the path to reach the peak faster. Same applies to life and career as well.

Assess risks objectively. Seek advice from mentors or coaches. Research industry trends and options. Evaluate alternative career paths. Create a strategic plan with contingencies. Build a supportive network. Stay adaptable and learn continuously. Manage finances wisely. Prioritize well-being. Seek feedback and reflect on experiences.

Assessing your situation involves objectively evaluating the potential risks and benefits of your career decisions, considering factors such as stability, growth opportunities, and personal fulfillment.

Seeking feedback and advice when facing career decisions with potential risks is crucial. It offers invaluable perspectives, identifies blind spots, and helps mitigate unforeseen consequences. Feedback allows for a broader understanding of the situation, leveraging collective wisdom to make informed choices. Moreover, soliciting advice demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn and grow, traits highly regarded in professional settings. Ultimately, embracing feedback fosters adaptability and resilience, essential qualities for navigating uncertainties in one's career journey.

Seeking feedback and advice entails consulting with trusted mentors, colleagues, or career counselors to gain different perspectives and insights into your choices, helping you identify blind spots and potential pitfalls.

Peer feedback is less reliable in situations where you may find it hard to get a true perspective of what is objective and serves your best interest. If possible, look for senior colleagues who demonstrate wise leadership and are well-respected in the organisation or industry, to get a non-partisan perspective that may help you gain insight to make an informed choice or decision. The key thing is to be open to views that may be difficult to hear and not be too hasty to react but be willing to reflect on it.

Our perceptions of what is important or relevant may be subject to many biases - both conscious and unconscious. Being aware of how such biases influence our thinking will help us to apply critical counterintuitive strategies to mitigate them as we explore options and potential solutions. One good way to exercise this is to "Walk in another person's shoe" Ask how another person would look at the same situation and what is their response. The objective of this is to make it less personal so you can evaluate thinking from a perspective different to your typical approach.

Exploring alternatives and scenarios means considering various paths and potential outcomes, weighing the risks associated with each option, and envisioning how they align with your long-term goals and values.

Always have a plan B and C ready in case plan A does not work. For example, suppose your decision to do a project will cost money for the company. In that case, some of the plan B you can think of can be 1) identifying multiple or alternate sources of funding you can use if the main funding runs out, 2) identifying an alternate product or cheaper product you can buy to reduce cost, 3) making sure multiple people are informed of the project progression and procurement process, so that follow up can be done even if anyone is out of the project, 4) If there is a chance that the project may fail, think of other directions the project can pivot into to ensure success in one way or another without wasting the initial effort.

When assessing career decisions with potential risks, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons thoroughly. Consider factors like the likelihood of success, your risk tolerance, and the potential impact on your long-term goals. While it's important to acknowledge and mitigate risks, sometimes taking calculated risks can lead to significant growth and advancement. Prioritize informed decision-making, utilizing research, mentorship, and contingency plans to navigate uncertainties effectively. Remember, embracing challenges can often lead to valuable learning experiences and career development.

Making and implementing your decision involves committing to a course of action based on thorough analysis and consideration, taking into account both short-term and long-term implications, and devising a plan to execute it effectively.

Monitoring and reviewing decisions is essential. Some strategies I find helpful include: Setting clear objectives. If you clearly define the objectives and desired outcomes of your decisions before implementation it provides a benchmark against which you can evaluate the effectiveness of your decisions. Monitoring the outcome enables you to identify potential risks associated with your decisions. By keeping a close eye on the outcomes, you can mitigate risks before they escalate into significant issues.

Resilience is like a magic skill. Learn how to use it and set backs turn to set ups for a come back. A little Les brown in there but the point is to be resilient knowing bad things happen, you overcome those things and don’t let them hold you back. You can train your resilience and practice controlling your emotions so difficult times become easy for you.

This is an UNDERDEVELOPED skill. I need to teach this skill in elementary school. A person who is resilient is capable of recovering from challenges, setbacks, or adversity with strength and adaptability. Achieving success involves facing difficulties, setbacks, and failures, learning from them, and becoming stronger as a result. Individuals who are resilient possess mental toughness, perseverance, and a positive attitude, which allows them to maintain focus, determination, and emotional stability during difficult times.

Developing your resilience entails preparing yourself mentally and emotionally to cope with any setbacks or challenges that may arise along the way, cultivating adaptability, perseverance, and the ability to bounce back stronger from adversity.

Perspective and choices are what I have control over. One thing I’ve learned this past year is that while my career and paying for my lifestyle is important, there are things that are more important. 1) My health (physical & mental) 2) My relationships 3) My happiness/satisfaction Prioritizing those three over my career means any risk I take will be something I can live with. This is not meant to minimize career risk. Accepting that there are circumstances over which I will have no control empowers me to make calculated risks.

My Grandfather once said to me, if you are afraid of fire, you will always be in the dark. The times when I have had the most growth is when I take on tasks that are new territory for me and something I have no experience in. The only thing constant in this world is change. There is no growth without struggle. If you want to grow, get used to being comfortable with being uncomfortable. Good luck!

Some of these mini expert questions make my eyes roll. ?? ALL career moves have a modicum of risk. They also have opportunities! Maturity lies in being able to take the informed risk rather than jumping wildly from a hates frying pan into the unknown firestorm ie new job. Also remember that for many many women, especially those deemed minority in Europe and N/America, the field for new roles isn’t as littered with jobs as those able to access and exploit bias or white privilege that works to their favour. An #impactfulAlly and sponsors can cushion or future proof what feels like a risky move. Does it mean you won’t have to work hard to thrive in the role? Of course not! But it does mean you know someone has your back. #justdeboharris