You Have More Power Than You Know...
Jeanine Marie Russaw
Worklife wordsmith. I craft content for mission-driven orgs making the world a better place. / SLASH / Pro training facilitator. Helping first gen job seekers launch their careers. #ASTOLDBYJEANINE ??????
Thank you for following along with my very first 4-week LinkedIn content series, “you have more power than you know,” part of my monthly newsletter packed with content designed to get you:
UNLEARNING problematic phenomena pumped into us from toxic workplaces, + RELEARNING how to rewrite a work story that works FOR you.
This month, it’s all about taking control of our career trajectories.
Why is this RELEVANT in today’s job market?
Confusion is in the air.
Conflicting reports say things like the “job market is cooling, but there are pockets of heat,” and claim that while things are getting harder for job seekers, they are still holding many of the cards that have been dealt.
Meanwhile, many LinkedIn dwellers’ disappointment is pointing toward trending topics such as the fact that the promised “September Surge” was no more than a “September Sprinkle.” So...What does that mean for you?
No matter what season your career path is currently weathering, a universal truth remains: You are the CEO of your own life and career. So guess what?
It's time to step aaaaalllllllllllllllll the way up and act like one!
If you ever forget that (as we’ve been conditioned to do), here are THREE surefire methods to note the power you wield in the workplace, and RECLAIM it.
???Know when to PUSH BACK and ADVOCATE for those we serve (+ ourselves!)
In the story I shared with you in my first post in this content series, I talked about a time I coached a cohort of early career professionals. The pilot program was close to my heart, and if they took nothing else from our time together, I wanted to leave them with this:
When it comes to IDing a career that you love…you have the power!
Of course, I would go on to break down the many ways in which we can exercise that power, but the very idea of that first statement made some folx nervous, and it received a bit of push back.
In the end I countered with some push back of my own, arguing for what I felt was best for addressing the needs of this cohort.
Here are 5 times we should push back to advocate for
When your expertise is called into question…
But Jeanine, shouldn’t we be gracious and simply accept constructive criticism when it’s given, no, gifted to us? Well….I have my opinions about the so-called constructive criticism we’re given in our respective worlds of work, but that’s another newsletter for another time (and don’t worry, it is coming ??).
This, however, goes beyond the regular feedback we’re all subject to on the job and ventures into dangerous territory. When you are:
That’s a problem. It’s micromanaging. Infantilizing. A real self-esteem killer.
Sometimes jobs rob. Your self-esteem is invaluable. When stolen, get it back. Push back.
You’re the one doing most (if not all) of the tangible work on a particular project…
If you’ve ever had to collaborate with those who outrank you on your company’s “food chain,” you know what I’m talking about. Imagine, you’re in a meeting representing the voice of the people: a lone soldier on the ground with both an up close view of the target and inside knowledge of what it will take to acquire it. You just need to speak up…and manage up.
PRO TIP: Always enter delicate conversations from a place of being helpful.
You can offer:
Your ideas will better engage those you serve
(+ you have the stats to prove it)…
You know why you were hired? Yes, because you have a certain level of expertise. You know certain things and you know how to get certain things done. But the REAL reason any of us are hired by anyone is to ease someone’s pain points. There is always a problem that needs to be solved, a bridge that needs to built (+crossed!), and a hole that needs to be filled.
This is especially true if you’re in a client-or-community-facing role with boots on the ground, otherwise known as direct insight into community needs based on ACTUAL conversations with people. When the time comes to relay those messages to your leaders, compile them into compelling, data-driven reports. Numbers don’t lie, and now, neither can leaders when they claim to be doing what’s best for those they provide services for.
Your needs aren’t being met…
????This one’s pretty straightforward.
What do you need to do your job, and do it well?
If you’re missing any of the following:
Be sure to alert the proper channels!
You’re a witness to unethical treatment of those on your team…
Unpacking the nuances of what is right or wrong in the workplace (outside of our collective common sense and any professional development sessions given via your employer) would take far more care and attention than I am able to devote in a single newsletter.
Not to make light of a subject I take very seriously, I will refer you to the creed followed by many a New York City transit rider:
If you see something, say something.
If you’re a witness to the unfair treatment of a colleague, you can either voice it in the moment and/or report it privately to the proper channels on the job.
?????Is there anything you’d add to the list above?
Comment down below and let me know!
??STAMP: Remember…you were hired for a reason! When this fact is forgotten among your colleagues and supervisors, be sure to remind them by leaning on your EXPERTISE and articulating your IMPACT on those you work with / those you serve (your clients or community).
领英推荐
???Assess the level of CONTROL you have over our current career trajectory
Earlier this month, I polled LinkedIn with the following question:
Do you feel you have control over your career trajectory?
Of course, there are many answers a person could have to this question based on their unique situation, but if we were to strip away the nuance we’re basically left with three universal options:
?? Absolutely!
I’m not afraid to pivot to new opportunities within or outside my field.
???Somewhat.
I don’t feel I can venture outside my field, but can easily pivot within it.
???No.
I feel my past experience ultimately dictates my next career move.
No matter how you answered my poll, you have some homework to do!
Ask yourself:
What do I LIKE about my current career (+ its trajectory)?
a. Which of the following categories do my pleasure points fall under?
i. Daily duties
ii. Pay scale
iii. Abundance of growth opportunities
iv. Stellar leadership
v. Other (expand here)
b. WHY do I feel this way about these aspects of my work?
c. What can I do to EMPHASIZE these aspects of my work?
What do I DISLIKE about my current career (+ its trajectory)?
a. Which of the following categories do my pain points fall under?
i. Daily duties
ii. Pay scale
iii. Lack of growth opportunities
iv. Poor leadership
v. Other (expand here)
b. WHY do I feel this way about these aspects of my work?
c. What can I do to CORRECT my current career trajectory?
i. What can I do to minimize the tasks I hate to make room for the tasks I enjoy?
ii. Should I broker a pay increase? Look outside my org? Start a side hustle?
iii. See the second and third questions in the line directly above. ????
iv. Do I feel like my issues can be solved, or has my situation become untenable?
v. Given my situation, is a CAREER CHANGE on the horizon?
?? STAMP: You ALWAYS have a next move. A question to ask. An action to take. In terms of your career…You are not, and never will be powerless.
???Audit your current career trajectory as it ALIGNS to the intersection of your strengths x goals x interests x values in 5 steps
Trust me on this. By restructuring your job search in this way, you are no longer molding yourself to fit within some random role available on the job market, rather, you are presenting the package of what you offer, and CHOOSING only the organizations, teams, and roles, that will enable YOU to live your WHY.
?? STAMP: You are not chasing opportunities, you ARE the opportunity…so always maintain your power in your job search!
In due season,
Jeanine ??