Is Life In The Way Of Your Career Development Goals?
The theory is a good one, work out your career development goals, design a plan to achieve them, put the plan into action. The challenge comes when you try to combine career planning with life - which has a nasty habit of getting in the way!
If you are just starting out on your work career and your troubles amount to getting out of bed in the morning you aren’t likely to get a lot of sympathy. We might have all been there (well most of us anyway) but it’s not the sort of “life” difficulties I’m talking about. If motivation is your only challenge the likely solution is that you have a job, but not a career path. The solution to that one might not be easy - as in not easy to achieve - but it is simple, change your career.
What I am really talking about is when you are a little further down the road. When the challenges you face to your career development goals come by way of personal relationships, your partner and your family.
I’m not suggesting for one moment that these things are done deliberately, but that sure doesn’t stop them throwing a spanner in the works!
A strong, smart, determined individual who has a clear career goal in mind will be doing all the things necessary to achieve that goal. Does that describe you? Are you putting in the extra hours to get the qualifications you need for your next career advancement? Are you starting early or staying late to get a job finished to a punishing schedule? Has the boss just dropped you in it but you know that doesn’t actually change the fact that you need to work Saturday?
And is your partner is having trouble with that? Are they equally driven by their own career and you are struggling to find time together, or is it that they are at home dealing with family issues and need your input and support there?
That’s life I’m afraid. It’s a challenge we all face and the solution is to be mindful of other people as well as your own targets. A shared dream is a much stronger dream. If you explain your career development goals to your partner, if you discuss what you both want and how your plans impact on both (or all) your futures, short term discomfort becomes easier to bear. Don’t forget it’s not all about you though - this is a period of negotiation and if you want your career to progress swiftly it’s a skill you need to master!
We’re just scratching the surface. Get all the right tools and tactics for success plus more free help and important advice here: Career Development Goals.
Related posts: