Evolve or Fade: Reinvention in Today's World

I was recently on a networking event with Chief members and a question was asked to our group about what career you would be doing if you weren't doing what you currently do. This is a great question to periodically ask.

Our world is changing so rapidly in so many ways that even if you love your role or career it is still a worthwhile question. For me, I get great insights into what might be off balance in my life or where I might bring more of my interests and passions to the work I do. I also see how I might shift how I approach challenges or opportunities at work. Taking time to consider your own reinvention is critical and can be fun at the same time. It simply requires a commitment of time and energy.

I had a private client who had a major personal challenge that was negatively impacting her health and how she was showing up for work. She was very proactive about getting support and she was seeing progress in our training together. But she was struggling to connect with why her work still mattered and was concerned that she wasn't staying current in her skills and approach.

She decided she wanted to expand her view, take a step back from her day to day functioning and look at her next phase with a positive, proactive mindset. She wanted an intense deep dive, so we co-created a setting that would support this work. She chose California, specifically the area of rolling hills in the Santa Ynez Valley not far from where our company 9Q Solutions is based. I devised a customized program for two intensive half days, giving her time to rest and integrate between sessions.

Her goal was personal and professional. She knew that as a leader in her field, she needed to level up her own skills so that she could bring this energy to her team. What did we do exactly? Each person's journey is unique, but here are a few tangible actions she took that you might consider on your own reinvention journey:

1. Self-reflection and assessment via a framework
2. Mindfulness exercises to clarify vision for the future
3. Physical challenges to support more introspective work
4. Identify gaps and actions to close them
5. Build Emotional Intelligence
6. Exercises to step out of comfort zone, then reflect on new insights and strategies
7. Re-visit purpose and where work is aligned with it and where it is not
8. Scenario planning for future events
9. Identify where to say no and where to say yes - boundaries!
10. Identify practical steps to make needed changes (what support is needed, networking opportunities, new skill building etc..)

For this client, she re-engaged with her current role with a fresh perspective and insights about what she wanted to do next. She removed the "clutter" from her personal and professional activities so that she could stay focused on what really matters to her. Within a week of returning to work, she felt more relaxed, got more done and even slept better than she had in the previous few years. She is committed to periodically reviewing and rebooting the way she approaches life to keep her mindset fresh and her actions more impactful.

If you choose evolve over fade, what are you actively doing to stretch and grow? How do you approach this idea of seeing the world and your opportunities through a new lens? Most people seem to need a nudge to get started and the timing needs to be right, but if it is the right time and place to consider who you want to be in your next phase, the benefits are immense for you... and for your organization.

A few of the potential benefits of taking time to reassess and re-imagine the next part of your journey:

1. Sustained relevance
2. Enhanced decision-making
3. Increased ability to respond
4. Enhanced well-being
5. Personal and professional growth
6. Reduced risk of burnout
7. Improved leadership skills

And for your team, you might see these benefits:

1. Your company stays ahead of the competition in a rapidly changing world
2. Awareness of new revenue streams
3. Re-alignment of purpose
4. Boost to the company's WHY and resulting engagement
5. Focus on relevant skill set development
6. Increased operational efficiency
7. Increased innovation

Do you have a training program? If so, do you know what you are training for? The journey of re-invention won't happen accidentally so look for ways you and your company can stay relevant and not fade away as the world changes around us. One key item to remember is that this type of "work" has less to do with checking off boxes of learned information and more to do with embracing discomfort as you play around with what might be next for you.

I know I feel better when staying curious and looking for ways to evolve and grow. How about you?

I'm Laura Ciel and I empower leaders and their teams to thrive, in an often chaotic world, while making a positive impact. If you're interested in learning more about private or team training and coaching, check our website or DM me on LinkedIn so we can discuss your particular needs.