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overcoming career change fears

Yes, But, But, But …………..

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Making a career change can feel as big a decision as choosing a life partner and whether to have a baby. That’s big.

To achieve a successful career change, you need to overcome the ‘buts’. A career change can seem like a huge mountain in front of you to climb. Part of my job as a talent liberator is to be your Sherpa.

Cartoon 14 Career Ladder

I was reflecting recently on what ‘Buts’ come up often with my clients:

* Lack of time to think and make a change

* Feel burdened by the weight of responsibility e.g. as the main breadwinner

* How a change will affect future plans and choices e.g. having another baby

* Fear of the unknown

* Finding something that fits you and is fulfilling

* Getting a lucky break and for a potential employer to see the value you bring

* Fear of making a bad decision and regretting a change

* Believing that a change means you have to go to the bottom of the ladder

* Fear of losing financial security and feeling vulnerable

Sound familiar?

7 Tips to overcome career change ‘buts’

1) Design security into your change

2) Set up a savings account to fund a career break, retrain or financial cushion for peace of mind

3) Keep the faith – be persistent

4) Make time to get clear on what you want

5) Create your own luck – be proactive

6) Fill the gap – information, especially for lawyers, provides clarity and reduces fear

7) Block out time every week so you make progress

What tips would you add?

What next?

The quieter summer months are the perfect time to think about your career and what you really want.

Imagine returning to work in September clear about what change you want to make and how you will achieve it.

A fast track career coaching programme could enable you to achieve it. Act today – get in touch:

http://careerstrategies.co.uk/careercoaching/what-next/

To follow us on Twitter,
https://twitter.com/talentliberator

My clients are very unhappy with me

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Fed up woman with pile of paper at desk

Sometimes my clients are very unhappy with me. They question what we are doing, how we are doing it and whether it works. I don’t mind. It is the storm before the calm.

Usually it is because they are very frustrated with themselves and/or feeling stuck and scared.

Changing career can be a pretty scary decision. A big change evokes big emotion and natural fears that need to be worked through.

During the process, they can feel very stuck at times, having made the decision to change, mentally left behind where they have been but not yet sure what they are going to do next and how they are going to get there. They don’t know what to do with this uncomfortable emotion swishing about so they project it onto us.

They can be slightly aggressive, defensive, ‘arsy’ even, but I see it as a positive because I know it is normal and healthy. They can be how they are and express exactly how they feel with me. Their friends and family may be worrying about the change they are making and talking about their fears to them can make them feel more worried and anxious, when they are feeling quite anxious enough as it is.

The breakthrough, or ‘aha’ moment follows this stuck phase and they move forward, often quite fast. The calm after the storm.

If you are considering a career change, it won’t be all plain sailing, but you will get to calm waters and be glad that you set sail, even if there are some squally patches along the way.

The alternative is staying in stagnant water that becomes more putrid over time, feeling more and more fed up, stuck and unfulfilled.

So what choice are you making for you? Get in touch if you are ready for change.

Click on this link for some blog about fears:
http://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/?s=fears+

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https://twitter.com/talentliberator

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Are you a silly sausage?

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I had a bit of a panic this week.

You know those times when you have a fast worried inner rant with yourself?

I had gone to an excellent talk about career change where the presenter had shared about the process of career change and how people become stuck, going round and round in circles.  Oh no, I thought to myself! No-one will actually pay for support if they know how to do it themselves and they can buy a book, download a free e book from the web or get help from a friend/relative.

There are a lot more competitors on the market now, which is the same for many people, so it is harder to create awareness. I was doubting my own uniqueness, something which I tell my clients not to do. Doh!

Yes, you silly sausage, there is lots of free stuff out there, but it cannot do what a good career coach brings to the process.

Below are general things that any career coach brings:

  • Time in the diary in a busy world to focus on creating change
  • A witness of the client’s expression of the desire to change
  • A step by process which helps make it happen
  • Sharing the blocks to progress which often clients cannot see as they are too close to their situation
  • Skill at listening, questioning and reflecting back key themes
  • Exercises to create awareness and clarity
  • Objectivity which someone close cannot give, because they have their own agenda and fears
  • Introduction to new contacts
  • Help marketing yourself

The presenter at the talk shared the key blocks to successful career change:

  1. Ping ponging away from avoidance of fear and anxiety about change and making a mistake and towards the desire for something compelling and back again
  2. Short term focus
  3. Linear thinking
  4. Choice overload of ideas creating overwhelm and inaction

Can you relate to these?

I felt so much better then.  Rachel, you silly sausage, remember this next time you have a panic:

  1. Courage to embrace uncertainty –  how many people take 6 months out unpaid to look at market trends to ensure their business is on track, develop skill in a new area  from a standing start (talent management) and read as many research reports as you do?
  2. Long term focus – how many people buy a house with a bus stop in their 40’s thinking ahead to when they are in their 80’s and may not have a car?
  3. Non-linear mind – how many people have your energising connecting mind, that is unique in its ability to spot insights, make connections and come up with ideas that people simply cannot see themselves? (21 in a session is my record so far)
  4. Focus – how many people have a laser focus and tools to work through and narrow down options as much as you do?

Oh yes. Fair point. And don’t forget about your 900+ quality connections on LinkedIn and huge toolbox of tools and tips. Oh yes, Forgot about that. Panic over.

So don’t doubt yourself. You are unique. Competition is increasing but you can develop your skills to build your competitive advantage and make your career change happen successfully, even in a downturn.

For more useful tips, follow us on Twitter @talentliberator