ARE YOU IN CONTROL OF YOUR CAREER?

"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." - M. Scott Peck

Career Aspirations:

We all have career aspirations, but at times some grow to become what they aspire to and at times some fail to achieve. Aspiration is just a long-term goal and so it is less specific and takes longer to complete. But who is responsible for your success or failure? I think everyone should take responsibility of their own career. I agree that someone may get a better start as compared to another but that should not stop you from dreaming or aspiring to become big.

It is a surprise that many people leave their career to chance or luck. Many think that their career will just happen may be by doing a course from a tier 1 institute or by joining a good organization or by getting a good profile etc. Yes, this may help elevate your career, but it does not guarantee success.

Achieving your career aspiration is all about dreaming and taking the right decision to reach the place you want to reach.

Here you cannot let the stereotype like you need to change job every 5 years, changing your job every 2 year is not the correct move, this or that is a high paying profile, this course will help you progress etc deviate you from your aspiration.

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. - Stephen Covey

Circle Of Failure:

Every big success is a combination of every small step taken at right time. And any failure is a combination of expecting that things will happen and not taking an action to make things happen.

We all work hard hoping that our work will get noticed and we will get our dues. But if this hard work is unplanned then it will lead us wondering why we got passed over for a good rating or promotion. The biggest mistake we can make after this is still not planning and staying in our comfort zone. Next stage is doing nothing and keeping the directionless hard work on.

Do not misunderstand me, hard work is very important, but directionless or aimless hard work will lead nowhere. Plan and take small steps towards your career aspirations.

"Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." - Francis of Assisi

Few Things That I Think Makes A Difference:

I think following are few points that differentiate between success or failure:

Keep Outcome In Mind

When we begin with visualizing the Outcome in mind, we would approach situations differently. Visualizing the outcome helps in taking right career move at right time. It will help you focus on relevant activities and eliminate those that do not add value, which will eventually help increase effectiveness. I am not saying that things always go as planned, but without having an outcome in mind you will go to office every day and work hard without knowing where to go.

Let’s say, your career aspiration is to become Head HR, it will automatically help you say NO to staying in the same profile for long even if it is a high paying profile. Saying YES for a smaller opportunity will help you get exposure for various profiles under HR which will define your skills, capabilities and pay in the future.

 Take Responsibility Of Your Decision

At times we have an Outcome in mind, but still not able to reach it is more frustrating. This could be because of our circumstances or a decision that went wrong or your current boss / organization is not giving you the correct opportunity and many more such reasons. In all such situations it is easy to blame others, but by doing so you are telling yourself that you are not capable to improve your situation. I think the approach should be very different, taking ownership will help you unbiasedly analyse your situation or decision and then taking action to rectify.

I have seen so many people who keep blaming the organization for not paying them well or for not providing them the correct opportunity etc. I just have one question for them, who have stopped them from switching their job? But most of the time they will continue working in the same organization and keep blaming the organization for their situation. Instead analyse why you are not getting the correct raise or opportunity, is it to do with your competency or non-availability of that role in your current organization. In both cases you are the one who is needed to take the right decision.

 Journey From Comfort Zone To Growth Zone

We all love to stay in our comfort zone where we feel safe and in control. Like let us say I am good at recruitment and have always worked in same organization, my comfort zone is stay in same organization and same profile. But will I ever grow up to my dream of becoming Head HR? I do not think so, because there is no growth in my profile, and I have a limited exposure. As per me it is very important to get out of your comfort zone and move to the growth zone.

In Specialist role, requirement is to keep developing and improving the same skill like moving from junior level recruitment to senior level recruitment and in a Generalist role, requirement is exposure to different profiles in same function.

Following picture (taken from google) explains how to challenge yourself for the transition from comfort to growth zone:

Become a Curious Learner And Keep Taking Up New & Challenging Task

A curious learner is always open for new idea and learning. It will help you create new opportunity and take up new task. I suggest start small by taking up new activities other than the usual ones. But make sure that you are accountable for the result, because only then you will make effort to get it done and only then there will be a learning. Next step will be to change your profile or goals completely with the motive to upgrade your skills. You could also join a course. Only suggestion is that any new task or course should be in line with your aspiration. According to me a curious learner always appreciates even the smallest opportunity coming his / her way.

Put Necessary Hours

Flexi working is the tread and many organizations are trying to come up with polices that suites them, it could be work from home, part time work, reduced working hours etc. By doing so, organization is appreciating the fact that employees have life beyond office where they are juggling with their family commitments or pursuing a course or a passionate hobby etc.

It is equally important that employee put in the necessary hours as and when required. By necessary hours, I mean stretching the time when the organization needs you. It could be a special project or a stage of the project which requires your time. I suggest fully utilize your flexi working but do not shy away from putting those necessary hours when needed. I have seen people who see Flexi Working as an entitlement and so the whole concept loses its essence. And after this they think what went wrong? If you want to achieve your career aspiration, putting the necessary hours for your work as and when needed is very important.

Make Peace With Your Past

“Moving forward - until I let go, until you forgive yourself, until you realize the situation is over, you will never be able to move forward.” - Charles E Hudson

I think if you want to achieve your career aspirations, it is very important that you not only learn from your past but also make peace with your past. We all have somethings in our past that we would love to change, let’s say getting into a better college or loosing that opportunity of getting into your dream company or that project which did not go well etc. But now you only have 2 options, one is to keep blaming the past for anything that goes wrong today (e.g. Only if I were from a good college, I would have got promoted early) or you can forgive yourself and move ahead.

It is important to look forward and make the best out of your current situation.

Final Take:

It all starts with you. You are responsible for your career. No one can give you a right fit advice for your career as there is no single defined process to achieve your career aspirations. So, do not leave your career to chance, take complete responsibility of your career, and spend some time to plan your career.

Any thoughts, please?

Aniket Sonar