Authentic career change starts with Discovery
Hi, happy October! Somehow, someway, we’ve made it to the time of pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween, government shutdowns… you know the drill.
While part of me can’t believe it’s October, the other part of me welcomes the turning of the leaves and the invitation to pause.
To take stock of how the summer went, and look ahead to the final quarter of the year.
To be curious about myself and my wishes for the future.
To intentionally reflect on what’s working, and where I’m feeling pinched or stuck.
In essence, to Discover.
Discovery – as a step, a skill, a behavior and even a mindset – is a crucial part of designing a career and life you love.
But what does Discover look like in practice? Great question!
For one of my coaching clients – we’ll call them ‘A’ – discovery looked like intentionally pausing to listen to the language they were using to describe where they were feeling stuck.
Preparing to go to grad school, ‘A’ kept asking, “Is this the right choice?” Through a powerful coaching conversation, ‘A’ discovered that the question they actually meant to ask was: “How do I evaluate which school is right for me?”
For ‘A’, to discover meant to notice where their language was on ‘autopilot,’ and to ask better questions.
During a different coaching session, my client ‘D’ discovered a clearer way to articulate who they are and the value they bring to their employer.
‘D’ had been laid off and was struggling to convert job applications into interviews. As we dug into their process, we were able to clarify that ‘D’ hadn’t yet crystallized their value proposition into inspiring language that would catch the eye of recruiters.
For ‘D’, to discover meant to clarify who they are and the value they bring to work.
Finally, my client ‘G’ had a stellar resume and was getting lots of bites to their initial applications. But ‘G’ felt stuck when it came to turning recruiter screens and initial calls into interviews and offers.
‘G’ and I spent our session getting curious about what hiring managers in their industry care about, which helped us refine their “About Me” introduction to speak directly to those desires.
For ‘G’, to discover meant to get curious about the other people in this system, and to adapt based on their needs and goals.
Can we make career and life change without pausing to Discover? Sure.
But will the change be the right change? And will it stick? That answer’s less clear.
That’s why I believe every journey to career and life change starts with Discovery. Ready to try?
Try this Out
If you’re looking for a quick Discovery check-in as we transition into October, check out this Calendar Audit I wrote about this week on LinkedIn. You’ll be surprised what you discover about how you spend your time!
And of course, if you’re looking to dive into Discovery more intentionally, I’ve got you covered!
What to Do Next
I’m excited to share that I’ve opened up 3 new spots in my coaching practice for clients to start in October.
Whether you’re looking for a quick burst of intention, action and support…
Or you’re ready for a customized, high-touch experience to transform your work and life…
Onward,
PS: I recently sat down with Baiba Wisse, the host of the Career in Technicolor podcast, to talk about authenticity and career design – and it was so much fun! Have a listen.