Am I Asking the Right Questions?

In a world that often feels saturated with advice on "how to succeed" and "what steps to follow," professional women sometimes encounter a complex path on their career journeys. But what if the clarity we seek isn't about finding the right answers, but rather about posing the right questions??

Insights from Top Leaders

Heather Price , a respected figure in the Defense Industry, invites us to ponder an introspective question that has guided her own leadership approach: "How have your interests outside your career shaped who you are? How have your passions outside of work played a role in professional success?"

Generously passing forward her lessons learned on LinkedIn, Heather offers a candid view into the intertwining of personal convictions with professional roles. Through her example, we learn that our non-work-related passions can substantially enrich our career narratives and empower us to lead with authenticity.

On the other hand, Shelley Groh , the narrative architect behind brands like NASCAR racing teams and Allstate and founder of Joymentum, prompts us to consider how we balance robust career ambitions with life's quiet moments of reflection.

Shelly's wisdom for ascending professionals is as profound as it is simple: "Defining purpose is a lifelong pursuit." She conceptualizes purpose as a compass—a sort of mission statement—that helps prioritize decisions, projects, and time.

Here's Shelly's recipe for daily alignment:

• Wake up with an intention that channels your purpose into the coming day's actions.

• Routinely assess if your tasks energize you and steer you toward your ultimate purpose—and adjust if they don't.

• Analyze any outliers that don't resonate with your intentions to ascertain their place in your life.

Career Development Tips for Professional Women

The essence of Heather and Shelly's leadership insights revolves around authenticity and vision alignment in both personal and professional realms. For the aspiring director or VP out there, this might illuminate the “hidden boxes of influence” they seek to check.

• Authentic Leadership: By weaving personal interests with professional duties, you can lead with genuineness that not only propels you forward but also inspires those around you.

• Living Your Purpose: A sense of purpose should not be static. It grows and shifts with every career milestone and life moment. Allow yourself the flexibility to redefine your purpose as you evolve.

Conclusion

The upward trajectory in any career is not just about checking the right boxes or clocking in the requisite experiences. It's about asking yourself the defining questions that resonate with who you are beyond your job title.

The challenge then isn’t solely about climbing the professional ladder; it's about ensuring each step up aligns with the kaleidoscope of your passions, intentions, and purpose. And perhaps, in the right light, those elusive boxes of influence were never hidden—they were just waiting for the right questions to reveal them.

For professional women blazing trails in their fields, remember that growth often lies in the questions you dare to ask—both of your leaders and, most critically, of yourself.