Making an Internal Pivot

Working in certain Organisations may lead one to end up in a department where you are unfulfilled or do not feel well suited to. I have seen IT experts in Strategy, Finance gurus in Legal and Research enthusiasts in Admin.

For one in such scenarios, you reach what seems like a low point at your job or career, where you are frustrated, bored, and almost disgusted. It may also be because you have always desired a job that gives you more time with your family or simply because you have no passion for what you do. You may desire a job in a different industry, a side gig that you want to make full time, or you may dream of being your own boss. It may just be time for you to pivot.?

A career pivot is an intentional, methodical process for navigating career changes. Although pivoting usually involves a career change that spans across different industries but sometimes a pivot may be so small that it’s even within an organisation. Internal pivoting is very beneficial when you have not found the right opportunity outside your organization and are not quite ready to quit or move into a different career field. Such changes are very beneficial as they allow you to learn more about your organization while giving you the fresh perspective that you desire.?

Let me use myself as an example. Some years ago, I experienced a lot of frustration at work. I had worked in the legal field for many years, and the work was becoming very mundane. Going to work was increasingly becoming a chore, and I knew it was time to take action, so I began to look at other departments where I could function. Thankfully, I was given the opportunity to apply for redeployment, and with encouragement from my supervisor, I found myself in the Strategy Development Department. A lawyer in strategy? Yes! And the experience has been amazing! I quickly learnt about the balanced scorecard, different aspects of strategy, and how all the departments work together to fulfil the organisation’s mandate.?

Here are a few things that can help you when you want to pivot within an organisation.

Understand your Organisation

Look at the departments in your organization and understand their functions. Ask questions, and have a couple of options. This is important, as you don’t want to end up in a place that you hate more than your previous role, or, as we say in Nigeria, "from frying pan to fire.". Do your due diligence and understand where you would want to move to.

Prepare

As a lawyer, I was always placed in the legal team at most of the Organisations I have worked with. While I am deeply proud of my training as a lawyer, I also knew I would want to explore other job roles. I started to prepare for this; I acquired two masters degrees, one in business administration and another one in public administration. I then began to obtain certificates in other areas of interest. My preparation via learning increased my scope and made it easy for me to understand and gain appreciation for other roles in other departments.?

Speak to your boss or HR

If you desire a change, the first person to discuss this with is your supervisor. In my case, I spoke to mine and explained how I felt about my current role. I was lacking motivation, and it had started affecting my performance. He perfectly understood, and before I could even discuss my plans, he advised me to apply to other departments and even gave me suggestions based on my strengths. If I had applied without his knowledge, he may have felt bad and tried to jeopardise my plans, but because I carried him along, he championed my move. In other organizations, HR personnel are the right people to talk to, so start having these discussions so HR is aware of your desires or plans.

Volunteer

A great way to prepare for an internal or even external career pivot is to volunteer for various tasks within your organisation. When I volunteered for certain tasks, people started to notice I had great written and spoken communication skills. This helped a great deal in ensuring I was nominated for certain tasks and trainings within other Departments.

Whether you plan to pivot internally or externally, as the year draws to an end, make your plan and take appropriate steps, and I hope it works out for your good.