When Your View of You is No Longer Clear

One of the significant career focus mistakes I see otherwise talented professionals make is identifying with and lingering in the wrong role or vocation long after the expiration date. To paraphrase and mildly massacre a Marshall Goldsmith book title, what brought you here isn’t what you need to do the rest of your career.

Consider these examples:

  • The long-time product professional isn’t a great product executive but, instead, is a fabulous strategist.
  • The product manager is horrible at the product management role.
  • The operations executive is OK in this role, but their superpower is business development.
  • The experienced project manager is an exemplary operations manager.
  • The customer support specialist has the potential to develop as a great account manager.
  • The sales engineer is good at their role, but their heart is not in it.

In each of these instances, the gravitational pull of prior roles and their identification with those roles keeps people locked in positions that are not optimal for them or their organizations. When this happens, both the individual and the organization suffer.

Beware Lingering Too Long in the Role that No Longer Fits You

As an executive, I helped many individuals pivot into new roles. Some were excited by the idea and have forged great careers. Others viewed the dialog and career development support as criticism and a threat to their professional identities. Sadly, those who remained anchored to roles that had passed them by or that didn’t leverage their true strengths have to a person struggled. One brilliant individual has been fired multiple times from senior roles in the wrong vocation for their skills. They flourished when they finally recognized the poor alignment between their skills and role and adjusted accordingly.

Twelve Questions to Help See if Your View of You Needs an Update

Running a self-check on you and your selected profession or work every few years is imperative.

While there’s no easy antidote to a mistaken view of self, here are some diagnostic questions that will help you think deeply about whether you are investing the time of your life/career focused in the right place at this time.

  1. Are you energized by your work? (Or, do you feel like you are running on autopilot?)
  2. Are you learning new things in your job?
  3. Is the response to your work from colleagues positive and enthusiastic?
  4. Do you have a personal sense of mission with your work?
  5. Are your performance evaluations positive and encouraging?
  6. Are you in demand for significant issues and projects with your team or firm?
  7. Are you asked to mentor new team members?
  8. Is your internal network vibrant and growing?
  9. Are you invited to engage in initiatives that cross functional boundaries?
  10. Are you involved in external groups/associations related to your core job?
  11. Are you pursuing continuing education related to your core job?
  12. Are you restless in your career, focusing interest in something new?

Find a Swim Buddy to Help You Assess Your Career Focus

I recommend discussing your thoughts on the questions above with a trusted advisor or swim buddy who is comfortable offering you frank feedback. While none of those questions on their own will tell you whether you are in the right or wrong place, a theme will emerge as you work your way through the list.

I also recommend a superpowers check-in. Ask current and former team members and managers this simple question: Where do you see me contributing the most value when we work together?

Again, working with a swim buddy, assess their answers and ask yourself whether you are applying your talents in a role that puts them to work.

The Bottom Line for Now:

Spend time in honest contemplation of your highest and best use for you and your firm at this stage of your career. And remember that our interests change over time. There’s no reason to remain connected to a role that no longer fits the person staring back at you in the mirror today. If the indicators suggest it might be time to shift or pivot, consider this the beginning of the next adventure in your career.

Art's Signature

 

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Want help jump-starting finding your “next” in your career? Consider joining an upcoming session of my Six-Hour Career Energize program.