A trip takes time and usually some planning. However, in our world of instant gratification today, we may find that this journey is taking too long and difficult, so we just bail it out. This happens very often when looking for a job. The person is very motivated at first to work towards a new position… but only for a limited time. What they don’t realize is that the job search, just like life, is a series of paths one takes and patience is important in finally reaching your ultimate goal. They may also not take into consideration other factors that may change the trajectory from the path they thought was the best. So it can be seen more as an attempt to maneuver through a jungle than a more manageable ride.
Here’s another way of looking at this. When undertaking a more difficult hike, one must look down a lot and concentrate on the trail. Otherwise, they may trip over a branch or stub their toe. They may also find insects or animals that are not very happy to see them. That’s the same with one’s career. Spending time defining what you want in your next position and in your career is essential. Unfortunately, too many people focus on money and other benefits like health care, but don’t delve into the different duties and responsibilities that can make them successful/fulfillment or not. Nor do they identify what problems they may encounter along the way. As an example, you may excel at a certain task, but you don’t like doing it, so you procrastinate; this can affect the “general perception” of you by your superiors and co-workers.
A great tool to help with this is a mind map. It is a technique in which you write a thought in a circle and then draw lines with ideas related to it. So you may have written “leader” in the circle and the ramifications could be emotional intelligence, employee relations, negotiations, training, hiring, strategic planning, motivation, etc. By using mind maps, you can generate ideas and concepts in a simple but also effective way.
Another problem is that you may not really know where this journey is going to take you. Does anyone really know? I once accepted a position that I thought would expand my skills, but in the end it didn’t because my boss was lazy. Another role I had was much more beneficial than I ever dreamed possible due to the company’s emphasis on training and development. The point is that you have to define a path, but you also have to determine some secondary paths in case things don’t work as you expect. In other words, anticipate the unexpected. The best leaders always have a second map in their pocket in case the first takes them to the lake when they want to head up the mountain. Always consider a Plan B. This is not being negative but more proactive. You might be pleasantly surprised to see a rainbow when you were expecting rain, so you never know.
