Chapter Eight: Doors
ello and welcome to another chapter of #ChroniclesInConsulting, the second part of this three-part series: "Mirrors, Doors & Windows." As I shared in the prior post, this important lesson will provide insights into the roles and impact people can have on you professionally and personally.
Lesson Two: Doors
The people in our lives that serve as doors provide pathways that are either openings or closures. In this lesson, we will explore the importance of both.
Open Doors: Individuals who are open doors create opportunities and are often developmentally focused mentors, leaders, and professionals. They are mindful about leveraging their successes to pave the way for others and seeing the potential in others. The doors in our lives often act as coaches and guides, investing in cultivating natural skills and abilities, or helping us to challenge and change by growing beyond our comfort zones.
Can you look in your life and see the people who have been a door for you in these ways? Can you see times in your own experiences when you have been this for others? Is there an opportunity for you to be a door that you have yet to explore?
Closed Doors: Not all doors will be ones that will open to opportunity, positive growth, and change. Closed doors can be one of the most challenging encounters. During a transition period between engagements, I decided to take the chance and apply for a role with a prior client with whom I had enjoyed working. There was an opening on the team, and having a good relationship and the right qualifications, I believed it could be a great opportunity. The interview process seemed to be going great. After finishing four rounds of interviews and making it to the end, however, the organization decided to go with a different candidate. It was a tough decision to learn. The admiration, synergy, and rapport were there, but I wasn't who they chose, and that door was now closed. So what did I learn from this experience? Closed doors are an indication of a pathway that wasn't intended for you. Even when you have all the right skills, experience, qualities, even if everything seemingly would fit; it can still be a "no". How you learn to accept "rejection" is how you learn to build resilience and adaptability. It's easier said than done but the gift of a closed door is the chance to be curious about and pursue different opportunities. Looking back now at that closed door, I am thankful for the lesson it afforded me.
I know right now so many of you are experiencing a lot of closed doors as the #technologyindustry is undergoing a lot of transformation. It's a tough market out there, and the competition for great roles is fierce because there are so many incredibly talented individuals and just not enough roles. I want you to keep that in mind; that this challenge you are enduring is not because you don't have the right skills, qualifications, ability, or experience. It's not for lack of pursuing roles; you are doing all the right things to pursue those opportunities. However, have you thought about trying to pivot? Where could you take your background, history, and/or willingness and desire and shift it to that you haven't thought about or considered before? Perhaps it's a different part of the industry, field of study, institution, or market you could begin to explore. Consider if there is a way to translate and transfer your unique qualifications and experience into a different pathway? Who in your networks are the doorways?
As we close out this lesson, I hope that by sharing about both open and closed doors it can help you to see the individuals that are opening doors for possibility in your life while recognizing who you can be a pathway for support to others. I also hope that by sharing my own closed door experiences it can help provide good perspective. And know that I am here to be an open door when I am able and support you how best I can when you've encountered closed doors.
Thanks again for reading and learning along. Stay tuned for the last installment of this three-part series.