Is the grass actually greener?

"How to get people to take a higher level of ownership in their careers"

Yesterday I got a request to do a webinar on the above incredible topic... and it has sent me into a rabbit hole of self-reflection, research, and discovery.

At first glance, it seems simple.

If we can help people realize they will make more money if they can grow their career.... they will take more ownership right?

EZ.

or is it?

Maybe I just want to stay where I am.

Maybe i just want to stay in my comfort zone.

Maybe the grass is just fine on this side of the fence.

I half joke, but in reality, this is likely what MOST people say to themselves when it comes to professional growth.

After chatting with a few co-workers, I realized this actually really hit home with me when I reflected on my college years.

I "knew" that getting a college degree would accelerate my career.

I "knew" that the grass is much greener for people with a degree.

BUT.... I "decided" to skip most my college classes anyway.... and eventually failed out of college. Twice.

At the time, my perspective was very limited and for some reason I thought drinking and partying and all sorts of other things were more important than my career.

I decided to stay in what I perceived as my "happy" place.

As I reflected on that moment, I realize this is where MOST people are in their professional careers right now. We tell ourselves we are "happy" with where we are. We can get by with our current income. We don't want to over burden ourselves with "growth".

But inside, we all secretly do want more. We know we can be better. We know we can make a bigger impact. We are scared though. We don't see a clear path to the other side of the fence. So we just stay where we are. Day after day. And our self confidence begins to fade.

Maybe we tell ourselves that our priorities have shifted.

Maybe we tell ourselves that our "Family comes First". (check out my recent article why I personally don't believe this anymore ).

Maybe we portray that we already "know it all" and we don't need to grow. (even though we feel like an imposter).

Maybe we are expecting for someone else to take care of us (govt, family, our company, rich people, etc). Entitlement culture is real.

Which gets us back to the original question.... how do we get people to take a level of ownership in their careers?

With that, Lets get into today's lesson!

Inspire career ownership through "Coaching Curiosity"

Lets start with some definitions.

• Career Ownership is a process that involves self-trust, responsibility, and accountability for one's career. It's a shift in mindset that involves being an active participant in one's professional journey, rather than a passive worker.
• Coaching is when we help a person change in the way they wish and helping them go in the direction they want. The best coaches do this through thought-provoking questioning and creative guidance.
• Curiosity is a strong desire to know or learn something. That desire is what helps people explore the "greener" side of the fence.

To dive deeper into my perspectives on coaching best practices, check out my article on "Quiet Coaching ".

We as leaders need to SUBTLY guide the people around us towards self-discovery through powerful questioning instead of immediately shouting the answers. This will build intrinsic motivation and help learners take ownership of their growth journey, unlocking their full potential.

And that questioning should really unlock peoples "curiosity" of the greener grass. Curiosity is the first real step towards change.

Here's some great questions to spark career curiosity, which will ultimately lead to career ownership:

• What initially drew you to your current career path, and how has your perspective evolved since then?
• What skills or knowledge do you feel could take your career to the next level?
• Are there any emerging trends or technologies you're curious about integrating into your skill set?
• What if you could learn one skill that helps you earn $5k more a year for the next 20 years?
• What if you could learn one skill that helps you have a greater impact with the people around you?

These are just a few of the incredible questions one can use to "coach curiosity" with the people around you (and also yourself!)

If you have any other great questions, please share in the comments below!!!

Let's get into action!

ACTION TIME

1. Why have you stayed on the dying grass side of the fence? Why have the people around you stayed there?
2. What questions can you ask others to inspire curiosity about career growth?
3. What questions can you ask yourself in order to lead by example?

MUCH gratitude for the moments you've invested today by reading through this article. We as leaders need to inspire growth and learning now more than ever... and I believe we can coach curiosity to help others see the greener grass of their careers! I promise to continue to provide fresh, actionable content- week after week, without any strings attached to help our world become a better place. Thanks again for subscribing and sharing this message with your circle!

Your Friend,

Dan