How to Be Authentic When Facing Career Uncertainty
David Shindler
Writer. Mainly. Coach. Often. Volunteer. Sometimes. Learning to Leap. Always.
The need to embrace uncertainty for jobs and careers is a widely held view today. The prescriptions for how we do that from business, academia and the guidance industry encompass a plethora of approaches, techniques, pedagogies, skills, mindsets and behaviours. And that's great because many are hugely helpful. However, there are intended and unintended consequences for one of the most well-known ideas that are playing out in public life with damaging consequences. What are the lessons for navigating jobs and careers? How do you deal with career uncertainty in an era of fake news?
Fake it until you make it?
A university student recently tweeted (whether in jest or not is unclear):
One highly transferable skill we learn at university: pretending we have a clue what we're talking about.
She might have meant it as a personal insight or maybe her university is reinforcing the 'fake it until you make it' school of thought (thanks, Amy Cuddy and Richard Branson). However, there are fine lines between self-confidence in your current capability and future potential, personal blind spots, self-protection, bravado, hubris, and bullshit (your very own fake news).
What part do personal values play here? Do the means justify the ends? Are people trading authenticity for 'playing the game' and sacrificing principles for expediency? Is this window dressing to impress (to get a job or win an argument)?
Unfortunately, we all know people who are very successful at pulling the wool over the eyes of others, as Jess Phillips MP memorably reflected in the UK's House of Commons recently.
I have met many people who earn way more than ￡30,000 and have literally no discernible skills, not even one.
The warning bells should start ringing when not having a clue what you are talking about or lying become badges of honour in the post-truth age. That also assumes a sufficient level of self-awareness - the Dunning-Kruger Effect is rampant currently!
Bluff and bluster are symptoms of a failure of critical thinking and analysis, sometimes simply fear, lack of humility, and of misinformation and misdirection leading to often dire decision-making (as our politicians keep reminding us). The Bluffers Guide to Life may pay well but pulling the wool over your own eyes will damage your career eventually.
What are your motivations for being certain in an uncertain world? Do you use certainty as a mask to hide your insecurities, a fear of change, or as an anchor to keep your stable? How open are you to other perspectives? Alternatively, how can you turn your lack of certainty, humility, and vulnerability into strengths (thanks, Brene Brown)?
Facing up to career uncertainty
In an interesting article for Inside Higher Education, Joseph Barber of the University of Pennsylvania, argues for facing career uncertainty head on, rather than avoiding it or procrastinating.
The thing about career uncertainty is that it actually exists no matter what choice you make.
Recently, I was invited to hold a webinar with students in a college in Rwanda on making career decisions and developing goals. A key message to them was to beware the illusion of certainty. Things will happen, good and bad, sometimes beyond our control. Don't let them deflect you. Where you have more control is in your response to change. Be alert to opportunities and grab them. Develop a motivating and exciting goal (you choose the destination) and use it like a compass to guide your direction. But don't get hung up on it and create unhealthy pressures because your career journey is unlikely to be a predictable straight line. You will have setbacks. Give yourself time to recover and re-energise, reflect on why you fell off your horse, then do things differently and get back in the saddle again. If you focus on the journey, the destination will take care of itself. Manage the distractions and take one step at a time.
Above all, expect the unexpected.
You are more likely to deal with uncertainty if you commit to lifelong learning to leap and develop agility. Embrace uncertainty by challenging your attitude and opening your mind (change creates opportunity). Adopt the mindset of serendipity (chance creates choice). Identify what is unknown and accept it, and identify what is known and work with it (choosing, then doing, creates energy and momentum). Tap into your inner child and ask yourself again, ‘ who do I want to be?’ Be a pragmatic, proactive, and positive career dream catcher!
It's not really true that you should be careful when you wish but rather that you should know by now that wishes are not idle things. Wish mindfully. Sabrina Ali makebelieveforreal.com
Finally, here are some other posts of mine with practical tips for dealing with uncertainty, how to manage 7 types of job and career uncertainty, how to be in control when you don't think you are, and deciding on career direction and career choices when you don't know where to start.
What is your freshest thinking about your career? What's your next step? How likely are you to do this? What needs to happen for you to follow through on your intentions?
(Photo by author)
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David provides career and workplace coaching to help your clarity, confidence and decision-making. He is the author of Learning to Leap: a guide to being more employable, and co-author with Mark Babbitt of 21st Century Internships (250,000 downloads worldwide). His commitment and energy are in promoting lifelong personal and professional development and in tackling youth unemployment. www.learningtoleap.co.uk @David_Shindler
Visit the Learning to Leap blog to read more of his work and check out his other published articles on LinkedIn:
Are Women More Collaborative and Men More Competitive?
How to Develop a Motivating Company Culture
Managing Up: Is This Fair For Inexperienced Graduates?
Why Genuine Strategic Listening is Essential for Success
Why Everyone Should Have a Mentor
Apprentices: How to Boost Support for Quality Mentoring
How to Face the Robots in the Infinite Career Game
Why Lack of Trust is at the Heart of Graduate Frustration
Are Career Opportunities the New Career Paradigm?
Setting and Reaching Goals: What Works for You?
Character: Be the Hero of Your Story
How to Be a Vulcan in a VUCA World
Early Career Dilemma: How to Manage Expectations
Let's Ditch the 'What do you want to do?' Career Advice
Father's Day: Learning From The Pleasure And The Pain
Employability: Do You Know How To Dance In The Digital Age?
New Career Opportunities In The Sharing And Gig Economies
New Graduate Hires: Why Managing Up Is Important
Work Readiness: Are You Lost in Translation?
Job Seekers: Test And Learn To Be A Game Changer
Career Adventures: Take A Walk On The Wild Side
Accountability, Productivity, And Saving Lives
Being Human In The Artificial Age
The Unwritten Rules Of Graduate Employment
Healthy Job And Career Transitions
Solutions For Closing The Gap From Classroom To Career
The Multiplier Opportunity In The Generation Game
Culture: The Quantified Self And The Qualitative Self
Purposeful Leadership To Create The Life Of Meaning
The Uber Effect: Opportunities For Job Seekers And Employers
Hierarchies are tumbling as Social soars
The Emergence of the Holistic Student
New Graduates: Following Is A Rehearsal For Leading
How Redefining Success Helps You Succeed
Why Developing Yourself Is A Matter Of Life And Death
Generation Now: The Imperative Of Intercultural Skills
#If I Were 22: Choose Insight Before Hindsight
How To Align Talent, Careers, and Performance
International Development | Project Management | Health Information Management | Special Education | YALI Fellow
6 年Always insightful!