Part 4: 3 Ways To Build Resilience As You Navigate Your Career Transition Journey

Career transitions are rarely a smooth ride. There are often bumps along the road, setbacks, and moments where you might question whether you made the right decision. Developing resilience – your ability to bounce back from challenges and to keep moving forward – is your key to navigating and managing these challenges. When you cultivate resilience, you can approach career transitions with confidence, ensuring you keep the momentum going and not allow setbacks to keep you stuck.?

When I left my corporate job in 2018 and embarked on the most significant and challenging transition of my career, three things helped me navigate the difficult times.?

One: The Power of Mindset

A key factor in building resilience is developing a growth mindset. Throughout my journey, I often thought I was not cut out or meant to be an entrepreneur because the learning curve was steep. I was doing things I had never done before, like designing my website or funnels or figuring out how to use a specific system or tech. But I learned to reframe it as "Just because I am not good at designing websites doesn't make me a terrible entrepreneur." I often repeated this to myself depending on the context or challenge I was facing.?

Learning to view challenges as opportunities to expand my skills and grow instead of failures helped me move forward and not stay stuck or give up.?

As you navigate your career transition and encounter obstacles, here are three questions to ask yourself:?

1. What can I learn from this??
2. Is there a different way to approach this situation?
3. What is a more empowering way to view this situation?

By focusing on learning and shifting your perspective, you create momentum and see where or what support you need.?

Two: Building Your Support Network

I wouldn't have survived my transition journey without my support network. Over the years, I have worked with different coaches and mentors and invested in my growth as a coach and an entrepreneur. When you start your transition journey, identify the people you want in your corner. They can all serve different purposes, from emotional support to strategic insights.?

Your network can include mentors, coaches, peers going through similar transitions, friends and family who offer encouragement and a safe space for you to think through challenges or even an accountability partner.

Here's a breakdown of what each can offer to help you identify your circle.?

• Mentors:?Mentors are experienced individuals who can offer guidance and share their knowledge. They can provide invaluable insights into your chosen field and help you navigate challenges you might encounter. Seek out mentors through professional organisations, alumni networks, or online platforms.
• Coaches:?Coaches can provide focused support and accountability as you work towards your career goals. They can help you develop strategies, overcome challenges, and stay motivated throughout your transition.
• Peer Groups:?Connecting with others who are also transitioning careers can be incredibly helpful. Sharing experiences, offering advice, and knowing you're not alone can be a great source of support and encouragement. Look for online communities, industry groups, or local meet-ups for career changers. You can also join my?FREE Facebook Group here.?
• Friends and Family: Don't underestimate the power of your existing support system. Let your loved ones know about your career goals and challenges. Their encouragement and understanding can be a valuable source of strength during your transition. My husband supported me through every wild idea and continued to help me when it failed. You need someone in your corner who will be there when things don't go as planned.?
• Accountability Partners:?Having an accountability partner can be a game-changer in your career transition journey. Having someone to hold you to your commitments and keep you focused on your goals can make all the difference. I've had Jasmine as my accountability partner for years, and she's been an invaluable asset during the most challenging times. With an accountability partner, you can set goals together, check in regularly to track progress and provide mutual support and encouragement. Knowing that someone else is invested in your success can boost motivation and help you stay on track despite obstacles. Consider finding someone who shares similar goals or values and establish a system of accountability that works for both of you.?

As you build your support network and draw on the strengths and resources of those around you, it's essential to complement this external support with internal reflection and growth. This is where building your personal development toolbox comes into play.

Three: Building Your Personal Development Toolbox

Something I struggle with, and I see in my clients who work in corporate environments, is the inability to slow down sometimes. In corporate, we are often chasing the next project, which means there's no time to reflect on what we've just achieved. But when you navigate career transitions, you have to slow down often and think about the journey because you will learn so much.?

As you navigate the challenges of your career transition, take time to reflect on what's working and what isn't.

This self-reflection will allow you to build your personal development toolbox—a collection of strategies and tools you can use when facing similar challenges in the future.?

Here is a process that I use.?

I keep a journal for all major changes in my life and career, as this helps me track my progress. Having a journal for a specific career transition journey is like having your own self-help book.?

When you experience a setback or a challenge?

1. Start with a free writing exercise and write about the challenge you are experiencing, including things like what happened, who was involved and how you felt.?
2. Next, identify your thoughts, feelings, and emotions so that you can start processing them.?
3. Then, identify patterns and notice if these patterns came up in similar situations in the past.?
4. Now, document what you did, including actions that helped you move forward and things you would like to improve (e.g., maybe you didn't handle a setback the way you wanted to).?
5. Identify your personal tool to add to your toolbox. Once you've gone through this process, you should have a clear idea of what worked for you and how to apply it to similar situations in the future.

Building resilience is an ongoing process. You will experience the ups and downs, but as you implement different strategies, you'll get better at navigating and managing challenges along the way.?

The key is to embrace the process; after all, growth is in the journey itself.         

Surround yourself with a supportive network and develop strategies to manage setbacks. By incorporating these practices, you can cultivate the resilience needed to navigate your career transition confidently.

Looking Ahead

Our final part of the Career Transition Series will be in your inbox in two weeks. In this final instalment, I'll share how to create a successful transition plan. I hope you'll stay tuned for the final article. If you haven't subscribed to this newsletter, please do so to ensure you don't miss any future articles.?

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