Are you following the right path?

I have a teenager who is about to sit her GCSE exams. Then she will be off to Sixth Form. So she's chosen her A Level courses, (there was a fair bit of deliberation about it) and from September she'll be off on her path. A fairly narrow path, with just three core subjects to tuck under her belt. And very swiftly after she begins those three courses, she will be asked to think about her next move, what happens post 18, where will she study, if at all, which apprenticeships might appeal, or will it be employment of some sort? And once again, the path before her will narrow, and the further along it she travels, the more and more constrained it might become. And we've all been there, making decisions at what, looking back, seems like a ridiculously young age. I plumped for a degree subject because I loved it, and was reasonably good at it rather than because I had a burning ambition to 'BE' something (although the dream of being a Shakespearian actress still lingers) and it was only in the end stages of my third year, with finals looming that I pootled along to a career talk one evening which lead to me spending the next 25 years on branding in the cultural industries. But what if I'd chosen a different path? What then?

We are, many of us, purpose driven, and we're encouraged always to be thinking about the 'what next' too. If you train to be an accountant, there are certain clearly marked pathways for you to follow, perhaps towards roles as a Finance Manager, then Head of Finance, Director of Treasury and finally Chief Executive. Constant progression is encouraged, improvement targets set, and deviation very often frowned upon. But how do you know if it's the right pathway for you? The one you set out on in your early twenties may well not feel so right when you're nudging 50 and considering what the final ten to fifteen years of your career might look like. It can be hard, though, to take a leap to the side, to change direction and follow a new path. And if you stay on the path you're on, how can you be sure it's the one that will ultimately lead to the job/career satisfaction we would all love to gain? Well, a few simple questions might help us to decide.

Firstly, is there any 'chatter' going on inside your head? Is there a nagging voice telling you that this doesn't feel quite right? We're not talking here about the external voices that set those expectations on you, we're talking about your inner voice. Setting aside some time to be still and really LISTEN to that voice may well help you to decide what is right and what may be wrong about the career path you're on. Secondly, is what you're doing providing you with inspiration? Has it ever? Is there something you could change simply about the way in which you work that might tick that box for you, or is there a deeper quest in you for something that lights your career fire? And thirdly, are you at the top of your tree, or is there room for further development, and this isn't about general improvement (there's always room for that!), but development that will push boundaries for you, open new ways of thinking and doing, give your ambition a boost.

Now this is when we need to address those hygiene factors, because they're really important. It's all very well thinking about what will excite you career-wise over the coming years, but bills still need to be paid, retirement funds addressed, basic needs and necessities that need to be covered. You could take a leap off your current path to become a special needs teacher (what an amazing thing to be able to do), but you will still need to ensure the rent or mortgage can be paid. So, the questions here are: is this financially viable for me and my family? How much wiggle room do I have? Is security and peace of mind at the end of the day more important than being able to leap out of bed in the morning excited at what you will find when you open your laptop. In short, is this the right time to make a change? And if not now, when might it be?

So what we're really saying here is that paths can change. The 'yellow brick road' to career satisfaction is there for you to follow, IF it's right for you to do so. But if there's an itch, a question, a longing, then why not sit down and wonder whether it's possible to make a change? Talk to a friend or a colleague (or a coach!) to address the pros and cons. And think about your values, your beliefs and how you like to work - do they fit with the job you have now? Or would something else match what 'makes you tick' more fully? Because if you feel stuck, there are ways of unsticking that maybe, just maybe, you haven't thought of. Yet!

If you'd like to talk to us about how a coaching programme might unlock new pathways, email [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you.