Post-pandemic, more women are looking to fast-track their careers or exit companies at an alarming rate, according to a recent study by McKinsey & Company.
Women are looking for careers that resonate with their values and beliefs, but why?
The pandemic has forced women to reconsider their place in the workplace.
Professionals are no longer prepared to put up with toxic management, stress or burnout.
As well as amplifying their career goals, women want to work on their own terms!
“Mid-life has always been an important time for women to address the important questions – who am I now, what do I want from the rest of my life, what is my legacy?”
Here are three simple steps to think about going forward:-
1. Gaining Clarity in your Sector
Today, technology is rapidly disrupting the way organisations operate and will impact how people map their careers going forward.
The rise in automation is eliminating masses of jobs which means women at all levels will need to both re-skill and up-skill.
More and more, women are expected to exhibit high-level leadership skills or they will be left behind in a rapidly changing employment market.
Change can seem daunting but women have to be proactive about their career advancement or they may find themselves stuck in a purposeless job for life.
By learning how to maximise your efficiency you can dramatically increase your market impact and brand image.
2. Having Your Own Career Cheerleader
Oftentimes, prioritising career success cannot be done alone if women want to optimise their opportunities.
Career growth has to be strategic, consistent and intentional. It needs careful planning in order to elicit solutions to achieve their optimal career goals.
More importantly, women need to feel consistently motivated and empowered especially if they face setbacks on their journey.
Tackling a major career change takes grit and it is highly recommended that women appoint a career coach to hold them responsible and accountable for their success.
Getting the right career coach will give them the support, help, and guidance to gather the right resources, plan strategically and execute their goals with more focus.
More importantly, a career coach will bring forward-thinking techniques and strategies and help you to unlearn disempowering habits.
3. Getting Strategic
Working alone will not guarantee career success so working with a coach will help to:-
Enable innovative thought and ideas
Hold you accountable to accomplish your goals rather than stalling or moving backwards when challenges arise
Improve your professional brand
Remember career success and growth mean different things to different people, so having a ‘third eye’ will help women to realistically and strategically achieve their goals.
Every professional wants to see their goals come to life however, don’t just celebrate the ‘wins’.
Working with a career coach will help women better prepare for and respond to negative outcomes. This is not pessimistic; it's realistic and wise.
“Fail to plan, plan to fail”
Finally, don’t believe it’s a sign of failure to secure strategic support from a career coach.
The experience may help to instil greater clarity; fill the holes in any plan designed and have more accountability as they keep your career moving forward and upwards.
Ladies, this is not the time to take a chance on your career progression. Career coaching offers a golden opportunity to live your life on purpose.
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