The Value of Perspective in Your Career

I just spent an exciting week last week in Chicago getting together with my #KforceFamily celebrating the last year and setting things in motion for 2023.??We cheered each other on and prepared ourselves for the new year ahead.?It was an exhilarating time to hear individual goals from my co-workers and also hear from our leaders Josh Borden , Julianne Schaal , and Michael Thal share how we will work together to meet and exceed our team goals for 2023.

Having time to reflect on all that went on last week, it struck me how large the value that perspective can bring to every stage of your career.?There are so many different facets of perspective that work to help drive your work at times and at other times, that very same perspective helps you to stay sane and not be swallowed up by despair.

My experience in the staffing and recruiting business spans over 20 years and I’d like to think I’ve gained a little perspective in that time.?As I look back on last week hearing from my colleagues, I heard people who range from just starting to mid-career and a few senior people like myself.?What I heard made me think about my own perspective and compare that to the perspective of others, and it prompted this post.

No matter whether your career field is in Technology, Product Development, Engineering, Finance, Sales or Staffing, you’re going to experience ups and downs throughout your career.?There will be times when everything clicks, you are really contributing and advancing, all while feeling great fulfillment.?Those are awesome times and can oftentimes be the part of the career journey where you learn and advance rapidly.

We don’t like to talk about it, but there will also be times that are trying.?No matter what you do, it will seem as though things are not working for you.?Maybe it’s a challenging boss, a new software system, or an ill-fated product development initiative – anything of that sort.??These are the times of great challenge which require you stick with it and persevere when you want to give up.??However, I would argue this is also a time in your career when you can learn a lot and can advance your own skills.

For me, it comes back to that word perspective.??If you look at the difficult times as a challenge to be solved, a wall to be climbed, a time to persevere, you will help your own mental health.??At the same time, be aware that when everything is going great, those days won’t last forever and be careful so as not become too overly confident.?Be available to help others who are struggling in their career and seeking your advice because someday, you’ll be in that position as well.

EARLY CAREER – JUST STARTING OUT (0-10 years)

The early career is an exciting time and one that provides great opportunity to learn and grow.?Everything seems possible and usually you have lots of energy and motivation just naturally flowing from you.??Life seems simpler and oftentimes the complexities of personal relationships, being a parent, home ownership, aging parents either don’t exist or are simple.??You can focus on your career and go all-in.

This is the point at which perspective can be a huge motivator for you.?You don’t know what you don’t know and, for the most part, that’s a real advantage.?It gives you creativity on how to approach your work.?You’re not limited by how you’ve done things in years past because you’re doing it for the first time.

This is a time of great excitement and it’s easy to get behind the latest industry trend or the companies’ latest program.?Nothing is holding you back.??To some extent, the naiveté allows you to go blazing into the next thing with great passion regardless of the risks.??Harness this time in your career, don’t let it slip.?Be the innovator, the high performer, AND the achiever.

While taking on the world, you may run into a boss who is a micromanager or a company that is sliding away into obscurity.?No worries, this is also a time in your career when you can pivot to a new job, a new company and a new boss easily.??Don’t be held back by the limitations of your current job.?See what opportunities there are in your field that will let you do your very best.??You’re setting the foundation for the rest of your career.

MID-CAREER – IN THE GROOVE (10-20 years)

By this point in your career, you’ve figured out a few things and accomplished even more.??You may have settled into the same company for a few years and been able to get an internal promotion or two or three.??Your earnings have increased from when you started out and you have hopefully gotten yourself on secure financial footing.?Life is good.???

You still have energy and motivation even though you have most likely taken on more responsibilities on the personal front.??You’ve become a master at managing your time, juggling work calls from your mobile phone, and navigating company politics.

In this time of mid-career, you’ve learned the value of personal time and been able to strike a work / life balance that works for you and keeps you engaged but not over-worked.

This can be a real sweet spot for perspective, for at this time perspective gives you the knowledge and experience gained from your early career.?It’s taught a few lessons and you use those lessons to make better decisions moving forward.??You can spot a “hot potato” project at work and decide if it’s something you can take on.?You’ve learned how to network to learn more about your new boss before you take that internal transfer.??That experience has also allowed you to become a better negotiator whether working with internal stakeholders, your boss, or outside vendors.

Those are all the benefits you’ve garnered with perspective at this point in your career and those are of great value.?

However, be careful, as that same perspective can sometimes hold you back mid-career.?It can make you cautious and perhaps overthink and overanalyze when an opportunity presents itself.??You’re less likely to blindly take that new job opportunity in the new division that corporate just opened up or to jump right on board with the new software system.?You’ve learned a few lessons and don’t want to be the guinea pig if you can help it.??This is another facet of perspective that you will want to keep in check and manage when you are mid-career.??It’s a balance of learning when to listen to your perspective and that voice inside your head versus knowing when to take that advice under advisement but still drive forward with gusto like you’ve done before.

Lastly, that aspect of perspective that buoys you when times are tough will be refined mid-career.?This is a time when it may be more challenging to just change jobs when things aren’t working well.?You may need to buckle down and deal with that poor boss or manage your way through difficult times for an extended time in this period.?Changing jobs maybe more complicated and it can take longer to make a move.??

In addition, perspective gives you a broader viewpoint of your career.?You realize that learning and adapting, changing and growing, are the tools that will pull you through the challenging times so you can get back to the more thrilling experiences.

SENIOR CAREER – THE EXPERT (20+ years)

By the time you’ve reached 20 years in your chosen career field, you’ve developed some expertise in one or more aspects of the field.?This is where it’s important to use your perspective to keep you motivated and engaged.??It can be easy to take the “been there, done that” viewpoint and stay on the sidelines, but I don’t recommend it.

Typically, at this point in your career, you’ve earned the respect of others and have developed credibility so you might not have to do anything you don’t want to do.

My advice is keep pushing, keep learning and keep challenging yourself.?That perspective that you’ve developed over time will keep you mentally strong.?It’s prepared you for the ups and down and you’ll go into any difficult time period with the confidence that only comes from going through it previously and seeing yourself come out the other side.

In the senior part of your career, the fulfillment that comes from climbing the mountain yet again and coming out victorious is even sweeter that at any other time in your career.??You see, at this point you appreciate the value of the wins, you know how difficult the challenges can be, and you can savor the good times that much more.?

Let those things be the motivation for you and the drive that keeps you going after it every day.?Perspective tells you “Enjoy the good times while they last and make the most of them”.

CONCLUSION

No matter where you are at in your career, remember that work is work and life is life.??We work to live so keep a positive look at everything you see in both areas and seek to learn in every situation.

Understand that your perspective can impact how you see things and how you might react to them.??As time moves forward, you will always have the opportunity to look back on things you’ve done in the past and seek to build upon your perspective.??

Make that perspective something that continues to gain value throughout your career and use it to help propel you to greater heights.

It’s the culmination of hours of work, experience good and bad, and a fair amount of blood, sweat and tears.?Manage that perspective well and recognize its value and it will treat you to greater enjoyment when you reach that senior career level.