Three questions that can clarify your career goals and set you on the right path

In our seemingly ever-changing economy has kicked off yet another year of career shifts, some self-catalyzed and some out of necessity. We are hearing from individuals at all levels of professional life questioning career direction--for some, looking to build future success and impact in a vastly changed economy, and, for others, fundamentally questioning the purpose of their daily professional lives and the mission of the companies they serve (or run). Every year offers the opportunity to pause and reflect, and this year, it seems, career planning is more essential than ever.

In our career coaching work with individuals, we move through a career transition process that starts with a Strengths and Interests Audit, in which we use a series of questions combined with assessments to help get to the “what” (What are some options moving forward?) and the “why”(Why do certain paths appeal more than others?) of career pathing. The process prompts self-reflection and exploration. We wanted to share a few questions we've found to be particularly powerful and relevant to the career decision-making process. Tip: take a few minutes to jot down your initial responses to these questions in a career journal, and once you’re done, read through all three and look for themes to help inform your own career planning.

#1: How do you define career success?

Imagine yourself looking back on your career and feeling proud of what you’ve accomplished. What does success look like? Are you on track to achieve that success? How can you consciously choose your next role in an effort to move toward that ultimate goal? Coming up with your own definition of career success is crucial to planning a career that’s ultimately fulfilling, building toward an ultimate sense of: I did what I set out to do in this world.

#2: When are you “in flow”?

The concept of the flow state was first coined by a psychologist, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in the 60s. “It’s a cognitive state where one is completely immersed in an activity…It involves intense focus, creative engagement, and the loss of awareness of time and self.” (Psychology Today) Identifying when you are in flow is a helpful guide as you determine career direction–it’s a clue about what kind of work will play to your strengths and make you happy. What does that look like and feel like? Rather than considering the title or job function, consider the activities you do and the parts of your day you enjoy more than others--what are they? The author of Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham explains how this translates into career satisfaction:

Think of a person you know who seems to have a job that perfectly fits them. You wonder: How did they find that? How did they find that unique fit for them, their lifestyle, and their individual strengths? I’m going to tell you their secret: They didn’t find it, they built it. Little by little, they took the best of their job and made it the most of their job. They took the role they started in and molded it, day by day, to fit their strengths. We know that 73% of the American workforce believe they have the opportunity to modify their job to fit their strengths better, but only 18% say that they play to their strengths every day. So, while the majority of us know that we can mold our current roles – most people still don’t.

#3: How would a manager describe you? A co-worker? A person you manage?

For the best results, send a note to a current or former supervisor, a co-worker, and direct report, and ask if they can come up with one or two words that best describe you professionally. Then, ask yourself why you think each one would describe you accordingly. These words tend to connect back to your strengths and they tend to provide clues for future career path ideas.

There is so much more to career exploration, and self-reflection, but if you start with these three questions, you’ll be off to the races.

If you’re interested in scheduling a career coaching session with us to explore your own strengths and interests as they relate to future career paths, click below to schdule a coaching consult with Cynnie or Rachel.

One of our recent coaching clients said it best: “For me, coming from a place of slight disorientation, the Strengths and Interests Audit was foundational. It gave me the confidence and grounding to gain from subsequent sessions.”