When the Framework Is Gone
William E. "Bill" Kieffer
Career Transition Coach | Best Selling Author | Executive Director, Veteran Career Journey | Coach & Faculty Member, The Honor Foundation | Strategic Talent Management Advisor | TEDx Speaker | 4X LinkedIn Top Voice
In his 2001 book “Good to Great”, Jim Collins discusses the concept of ‘freedom within a framework’.
He proposes that disciplined people who engage in disciplined thought and take disciplined action are most likely to succeed when their work circumstance includes a framework within which to operate and the freedom to do so as they best see fit. Absent discipline or framework, unexpected/unwanted events and results are likely.
A few days ago, I was discussing career transition with a soon-to-be veteran. Our chat veered toward ‘fear of the unknown’ and how hard it might be to stay focused in this foreign situation where opportunities are seemingly endless, clear paths to success are rarely obvious, and the ‘framework’ of the military organization, structure and culture is gone.
Being part of an organization (perhaps especially one as structured & disciplined as the military) brings with it some tremendous (although often unrecognized/underappreciated) benefits. Among these are purpose, structure, context, momentum, and similar factors that provide environmental inertia to keep you on track and moving forward.
These factors are part of the ‘framework’ within which you bring to bear your experience, skills, abilities etc. to make things happen. One might suggest they are like bumpers in bumper bowling; nudging you back into the lane when you are heading for the ‘gutters’.
When you separate from the organization the framework is gone. No longer can you count on the organization’s framework. You are on your own to make your way forward.
So how do we create our own framework? I’ll suggest you must change your perspective. Look no longer for those external boundaries and motivators to keep you moving and on track.
This is an amazing opportunity to figure out who you are and what you really bring to the party.
· What are your guiding principles? Your core values?
· What are your preferences? Your non-negotiables?
· What do you want? What do you need?
· What are your constraints / obligations?
· What motivates you? What matters to you?
· What are you best at?
· How can you make money?
· What are you passionate about?
· How do you define success?
Answering these questions may be hard. This may be the first time in your life you’ve had such an open field in front of you. It may be scary – for the same reasons.
You may believe you don’t have answers. But you do. You make decisions everyday that influence or are influenced by these questions.
Doing this work enables you to change your perspective. You no longer need an organizational framework to keep you on track and moving forward. You now have an azimuth, a direction and some clarity about what you’re doing, where you’re going, and how you’re going about it. Your answers may change over time. That’s OK. Doing this work will pay vast dividends.
Leveraging this work along with effective networking, diligent overall effort, and a confident, positive demeanor will optimize your transition experience.
Be well. Keep up the fire!
Copyright 2020 William E. Kieffer
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4 年Excellent post, Bill. I've found systems and frameworks incredibly helpful for enhancing my networking skills. I've been able to go from unconnected and hating networking and always having to seek opportunities. Now, I'm decent at networking, feel more connected, and starting to see opportunities come to me.
Defense Business Strategy & Operations
4 年Well...I should have talked to you about three years ago referencing this topic...great perspective and review. How should you adjust if you were creating the boundaries and you yourself adjusted to them?? Best Regards Bill...
Enterprise-level Investigations | Compliance Subject Matter Expert | Executive Advisor | Army Officer | TS-SCI
4 年William E. "Bill" Kieffer, excellent post and great perspective.? I'd liken your concept to navigation ... in the military, we're navigating on known roads with turn signals, traffic lights, etc. (the military framework).? As we hit our inevitable transition point out of the military, we go "off-road" and are doing dismounted land navigation through the woods.? It's a lot more ambiguous, there are unexpected hills and ravines, and sometimes it seems as though we can't see very far (vision for our future) because of all the trees (challenges of dealing with transition) seeming to block our view.? However, when we use our training and map/compass (learning from those who've successfully transitioned), we can get to the high ground and see the vast expanse of the beautiful landscape (opportunities to excel and contribute in the civilian sector) that lay before us.?? Keep up the great work and I look forward to reading your next piece!
I consult and provide specialty expertise on making plain the edges & challenges of program management, workforce agility, performance improvement, & cybersecurity. I know, I’m narrowing that list down.
4 年Great post. I'd go one further--creating that framework starts while we're in uniform. We don't abandon all we learn and all we've been when we get out. We need to keep what works, shore up what doesn't. That's the challenge.
Transitioning - Manpower and Human Resource Planning
4 年So true.