At the beginning of a new year, people often make a commitment to change some aspect of their lives. While changing jobs is not one of the top ten, several of the most popular resolutions could easily imply a job change. Of the top ten resolutions, spending more time with friends and family, learning something new and enjoying life more all could all point to one's job or career as a means to the goal.
Over the years, I've heard many stories that attest to what works and what does not in achieving success in a transition to new work. While I don't propose that these three are the only effective strategies, I will say that they can add great value to a person's transition.
1. Make space in your life.
It seems that everyone is talking about how busy they are and wishing for more time to get things done. As contrary as it may seem, stopping, rather than doing more, is a paradoxical way toward more effective results. When one's mind and daily schedule are full to the brim, there's no room for new ideas, let alone additional tasks necessary to make a change. It's amazing how a few minutes of reflective time, writing in a journal, or conscious breathing can help shift a feeling of being stuck or overwhelmed.
2. Ask "what" rather than "how".
Inherent in a transition is usually the question "how". There is something about that question that seems to demand an immediate answer. But transitions, especially in their early stages, are typically not developed enough to address these "how" demands. Unable to come up with adequate responses to the "how", most people assume their ideas are not feasible and give up on them.
Instead of abandoning your ideas, try asking "what" and hold off on the "how" until later in your process. Once you are clear about your desire and direction, you may find that your initial "how" questions change or that the answers are more readily available. Clarity about "what" fuels a person's resolve; whereas premature "how" questions block any glimpse of new possibilities.
3. Trust, let go and have patience.
Most people like to be in control. While there's nothing wrong with feeling in charge of one's life, it's impossible for a person to make everything fall into place when it involves others and situations that are out of their control.
Somewhere in the course of a transition, a person must let go of what is unfolding, including the timing of it all. In order to truly let go, patience and trust are essential. If a person recognizes that these qualities are integral to the transition process, rather than distractions from it, they may find the important task of waiting for certain outcomes more tolerable.
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Where Barbara is presenting next:
•Women Supporting Women, a free event of the The Maine Women\'s Fund
February 6, The Woodlands Club, 7-9pm. Come hear about work and life balance and unleashing your investment Goddess!
•Maine Association of Personality Type
Using the MBTI in career counseling featuring Barbara Babkirk and Amy Jaffe
Free, Tuesday, February 27, 6:30-8:30pm, Falmouth Library
•Yarmouth Wellness Fair, sponsored by the Yarmouth Chamber of CommerceSaturday, March 3, 10-3pm, Yarmouth, HS
•Hardy Girls, Healthy Women Conference
Saturday, March 24, KVCC
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