Success Is In The Mess: 7 Principles For Modern Day Career Growth
Sound waves are a lot like modern day career paths, uniquely dancing but moving us forward at the same time.
When we are hearing any sound, we are listening to a source of energy making its own unique journey. All sound waves are similar in their use of vibrational energy, but are also very different from one another because of their ability to differentiate through variables such as volume and pitch. In fact, an instrument or even a human voice produces a varied mixture of different waves at the same time. All these waves add together to produce a unique shape, thus producing a uniquely beautiful sound. In many ways, the ebb and flow of sound waves and what it exquisitely produces is similar to a modern day career approach and the equally exquisite result of what it can produce.
In the past, linear career paths made sense.
When the pace of change all around us was not so rapid, careers were defined based on our technical competence, our seniority and our progression on a very linear career ladder. In fact, Merriam-Webster traditionally defined a career as: “A field for or pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement” and “a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling.” In fact, most of us still define our career by the jobs we have had in the past, as listed on our resume, or by the position we aspire to have in the future. “Career advancement or success is a series of promotions or positions up the ever narrowing organization (Career Path). But, this mindset around a siloed and permanent career trajectory no longer serves us.
Careers today are rarely linear, but that’s what makes us dynamic and future-geared.
Careers today are rarely linear in our fast-changing world and shifting roles or gaining new skill sets doesn’t have to feel like a step backward. In fact, the skills and experience gained by lateral moves and evolving our current roles are what make us more dynamic as leaders and help us to rise together to meet demands, both on organizational and global scales. Instead of being deflated by a nonlinear or “messy” progression, we have the opportunity to become exactly what the world needs.
We can change the way the world sees career paths.
To break the stigma around nontraditional career moves, consider what might happen if we replace the concept of career path with career growth. A completely new definition would emerge: “Career advancement or success is growing or expanding your capabilities and contributions” (Career Growth).” We would feel empowered, regain control of our personal growth and would coach others to do the same. We would focus less on what once felt “messy”, instead shifting our focus to collecting the capabilities and contributions that drive personal, business and community success in a unique way, at the same time. We would open up new possibilities for career growth that allow us to develop our capabilities and also allow us to make a contribution along the way, such as, targeting a new customer segment, developing a new customer experience, working on a cross functional project, being involved in a mentoring relationship, or volunteering to sponsor a board or community event.
How can we make this happen?
The good news is that these career growth opportunities can happen at any time, without waiting for a “position” to open up, for a promotion to happen or for an organization to bring us a major career development initiative. We need to replace our mental model of a ladder with one that gives us possibility. Consider modern day career growth to be more like expanding your portfolio, downloading a new app to your phone, adding a ring to your tree trunk or producing your unique sound waves. We can start by incorporating the 7 Principles for Modern Day Career Growth:
Career growth is only about expansion and careers can grow in so many ways
Future roles evolve based on dynamic needs of the world, which present new possibilities to consider
The way we work has changed and continues to change, which creates unexpected opportunities to grow
Career development can happen all the time, even through challenge and within our current roles
Strengthen your career agility and future-geared capabilities through experience-based opportunities
Creatively design your own career that aligns values and strengths with what the world needs
Own your journey as it is a collection of your contributions and acquired skills; include and support others as they do the same so career success become milestones along that journey
Success is in the mess
Despite the fact that our career paths may look messy or unclear by traditional standards, there is clarity when we expand our mindsets to see career as growth, agility, risk taking, and strength. So, let’s release our sound waves because their uniquely beautiful journey, while “messy”, brings us to greater contributions and success. And the greater the “mess”, the greater the success.
Looking to motivate your teams to think bigger about career growth? UpSpiral Leadership® can help!