Strategic Thinking For Career Development

By 谢惠森

The following is a 2 part article.

In a research finding by Oracle and Workplace Intelligence based on C-suite, HR leaders, managers, and full-time employees, it was reported that 75% of respondents said they feel stuck professionally (AI@Work Study 2021).

25% believe they don’t have growth opportunities to progress in their careers. 22% are too overwhelmed to make any changes.

The following are common themes expressed by clients arising from my leadership coaching:

• They are staying in the same role for a long period due to a lack of internal opportunities
• They no longer ‘feel’ valued as promotion opportunities bypass them
• They are not learning and growing professionally
• They are disillusioned on what will be their next role
• They are worried about the risk that comes along when changing job
• They find their work has no meaning going through the routine

My clients have agonised over these issues and many feel stuck and afraid to address the issues head-on due to not wanting an impact on their job security.

While ensuring job security, the flip side was impacts on their performance and mental well-being.

One of the ways I see employees addressing this issue of being ‘stuck’ is to start thinking strategically about their long-term career and explore their possibilities.

What is Strategic Thinking?

Strategic thinking is a mental or thinking process applied by an individual to achieve a goal or set of goals. As a cognitive activity, it produces thought. (Wikipedia) The term ‘strategic thinking’ is often used interchangeably with ‘strategy,’ ‘strategic management,’ and ‘strategic planning’ (Bonn, 2001; Liedtka, 1998).

Let us consider the following strategic planning model (David, 1990) as a framework to help us develop our strategic thinking in order to get ourselves unstuck in our careers.

Vision and Mission/ Career with Purpose

The above model starts with mission and vision statements. Mssion defines a company’s business objectives and approach to reaching its goals while a vision describes the desired future position of the company.

In applying this to the individual seeking to becoming unstuck in their career, a good starting point would be to define their career purpose.

Purpose in the context of a career does not have to be something that “changes the world”. It can simply be about a career that we love, makes us happy, and enables one to find fulfillment in the things we do and care about. It is about a career that enables us to be a better human being.

Careers that have a purpose are roles that fulfill your desire to do meaningful work. It can come from doing something you care about instead of just earning an income.

The most important question to ask on the job is not “What am I getting?” The most important question to ask is “What am I becoming?” (Jim Rohn)

Some good questions to find your career purpose could include ?

• What are you good at?
• What activities bring you joy and make you smile?
• What are the core values that you will not compromise?
• What positive impact do you like to create??

Part 2 coming up next week!

CDAS?is an association based in Singapore that aims to Promote and Professionalize Career Development and Management in Singapore.