Here comes the New Year, and here they come again. The same questions I have been asked dozens of times, and with increased frequency over the past couple months.
- Do I need a “plan B?”
- Should I make a career move?
First of all, everyone should have a “plan B.” It may also be necessary to have a plan C, and D. I have come to realize a simple truth about planning. If you do not have a plan, you will be the object of someone else’s plan, and you probably won’t like where it leads to, or leaves you. I have enough empirical evidence to say, with confidence, the reason most people do not build effective life/career plans is a lack of knowledge. We may know we need to make changes, want to build a plan, but we just do not know where to start. Start with this question,
Where do you want to be personally and professionally five years from now?
This is a big question. It may seem overwhelming, but understanding where you want to be is the place to start building your plan B. Let me show you how to take the first step, by sharing a story about a good friend. He is very talented, been promoted frequently, been rewarded with more responsibility, and wants to be a CEO of a company five years from now. To help him evaluate his progress, I presented him with three statements about his job, and asked him which best described his situation.
What I am doing in my current job is:
- Moving me towards where I want to be. I am developing new skills and capabilities needed to prepare me.
- Focusing me on skills and assignments I have already mastered. I am treading water in my current role.
- Moving me away from where I want to go and who I most desire to be.
Then I asked three questions about his company:
- Is the company well positioned, and is it executing a ‘winning’ strategy?
- Can you do your best work, make a significant contribution, and realize your career ambition?
- Do you believe in the leadership? Do you get excited about being associated with and following the leaders?
You can evaluate your situation and progress by applying this same process. In your current job, if you are not moving towards where you desire to be, now is the time to get serious about building a plan B. When you look at your company and your role within it, if you say no to any of the three questions, you need to build a plan B that includes the evaluation of a job/career change. Do you want to invest one more year, let alone five years, in a job where your contribution of time and talent is not supporting your dreams and goals?
You can be more, do more and give more. Where do you want to be personally and professionally in five years? If you are not moving towards where you want to be, now is the time to get started, move in that direction and develop your Plan B!
If you could accomplish one goal that would move you towards what you desire most, what would it be?