How much time do you take to design your career?

Design your career - to maximize your job performance and job satisfaction.

Very few people start their career by specifically designing their career, sketching out, and thinking about how they would like their careers to be, from beginning to end.

It is very understandable. At the beginning of a career, most people are just excited to start running and prove themselves at work, and there is often quite a lot going on in their private lives at the same time.

But as we become more experienced and move further into our careers, it's good to pause every now and then and reflect on our careers. Just as companies review their policies regularly.

Most people probably spend more time designing their kitchens, than their careers.

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Being in mid-career

It is difficult to say what is considered to be mid-career, especially since with increased longevity people's careers are generally going to be longer than we may have thought to begin with.

Some may relate mid-career to a certain age, a certain number, while others to the middle of the time between the start of a career and the planned retirement.

But the way our career is and how we want it to be is something that people often start thinking about when they get to, or feel that they are in the middle of their career, also because at that time people are often also going through changes in private life. At that time, people tend to wonder if they are happy with their jobs. Wondering if it is time to change jobs. Seek more responsibility, or less responsibility, or just something else. Whether their career is generally as one wanted.

Although most people do not go into these discussions or designs very consciously or strategically until they feel they have hit mid-career it is all good, as it's never too late to start thinking about it. Especially now that we are living longer and working longer, as mentioned before.

Something to keep in mind when designing a career

Do you work to live - or do you live to work

If you are not in a job that you simply feel that you were born to be in. That your job is your purpose in life. If you rather see your job as a way to earn an income than to be your calling in life, then it can be good to ask yourself what kind of career you want or what you want the career to give you or do for you.

• ?Do you want a career that provides the highest income?
• Do you want a career that brings you the most joy?
• Do you want a career that gives you the most freedom - in time, location, colleagues, etc.?
• Do you want a career where you can learn as much as possible and keep up to date with all the latest developments in your field?
• Do you want a career where you can have the greatest impact, on other people, society, the environment, or otherwise?

One of these options doesn′t necessarily rule out the others, and it may all go well together - but thinking about it can still be thought-provoking and make you wonder if there's a reason to make any changes.

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If you think there is a reason to make changes

If you think there is a reason to make changes, they can be of various kinds.

• The changes can be negotiating new or different projects in the current job, or changing to another job in the same workplace.
• Or to take a similar job in another industry.
• To start working independently.
• Or even some kind of mix of all of these.

Before you start negotiating with your current employer for changes, quit your job, apply for another job, or start working independently, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• How can you be sure that the changes will bring you closer to your dream career, or what time you have left working or having your career?
• What do you want your career to give you, as asked above?
• Do you have the necessary skills to do what you most want to do?
• Have you been able to demonstrate good results and value in your current job so that you could easily negotiate a new job or project, in your current or new workplace, or as a gig-worker? Would you be hired for your current job if it were advertised now?
• Have you carried out your own continuing education and professional development well - have you maintained your employability well, for the future?
• How does what you want to do now align with your purpose and personal values?
• How well would it support healthy life-work balance or integration, and your physical, mental, social, and financial health?

If you are wondering how you want to continue your career, whether you want to find ways to be happier in your current job, change jobs, or start working differently, then I recommend that you take some time to think about your career from all kinds and new angles and take time to look well inward.

I also recommend that you work with a coach, who can support you in the process, without having any vested interest in what decision you make. ?

I have coached many managers and people at crossroads in their careers and guided them through all kinds of exercises and projects that help them make the decisions that serve them best, whether they decide to make no, small, or big changes.

Impact of management on successful Careers, for individuals and employers

Managers today should generally be managing people less, rather encouraging them, guiding them, coaching them, and supporting them for good results and development in work and private life.

In this way, managers have the greatest and best effect on their work, for the employer, the employees, and society as a whole, just as job satisfaction affects people's quality of life.

I encourage all managers to have an open and honest conversation with their employees, about how they want to build a career and what they want to get out of their career. I think it's a good way to build trust and it can also reduce employee turnover.

It is important to be open to the answers that come and to understand the opportunities that lie in the fact that not everyone thinks or wants the same.

The parties may agree that the dream career of the employee does not include the person's current job and perhaps they part ways, long-term or temporary. But now the hiring of ex-employees (some call them boomerangs) is becoming more common, as those hirings are often considered very successful.

When people have gone and tried something else but then want to come back. It is therefore always important that managers and employees understand each other well. Although, understandably, it may often be more difficult if the termination of employment is initiated by the employer.

But if a manager knows what kind of career people want and what motivates them in their work, it is best if they can work around it, planning the work and the projects to maximize performance and job satisfaction, at the same time.

With changes in tasks and responsibilities. Changes in working hours and working environment. And increased opportunities to learn and develop at work, the satisfaction and success of both parties can very likely be improved.

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Herdis Pala is an experienced leader, with 20+ years in management positions, there of 13 years in C-Suite positions. Her responsibilities have mainly been within HR but also in Operations, Marketing, Service, Facilities Management, and more.

She is also a highly appreciated Speaker, Lecturer at Universities, Corporate Trainer, Executive Coach, and Management Consultant.

- Her most requested speaking and training topics are:

• Future of Work, Workplaces, Workforce, and Labor Market
• Unlocking success, empowering, and preparing managers/employees for the future
• Self-Leadership and changes
• How to be a better co-worker
• Importance of healthy workplace culture and how to nudge it.
• Employee Experience and Employee Journey
• 360° Success, in work and life, based on the principles of Self-Leadership
• How to Be Somebody′s “Best Manager I′ve Ever Had”
• How to Be a Better Manager - and Have a Better Life, At the Same Time.

Now she is also offering online training for mid-career people, see https://bit.ly/SelfLeadership-Workshop-Oct2023

www.herdispala.is/english