Take a Career Risk
When was the last time you took a career risk? Made a bold move? If you can’t remember such a time in the last 3 years or so it may be time to see what new experience you can consider to increase your level of engagement, success and enjoyment at work.
It can do us all well to adopt the risk appetite of our Gen Zers who according to a recent McKinsey report take career risks early.
I had roughly 5 distinct careers over an almost 30-year corporate career. I was fortunate to work in a dynamic industry in which I could pivot and leverage new skills while learning new ones to advance professionally. With each new career move I became a learner again, re-engaged and better aligned with my personal priorities as a working mother of 3 children. Each new career move was well-thought out and I accessed the support of my mentor and network to determine my next best move.
You see, it turns out that taking career risks is like developing a muscle through exercise. When the risk you take turns out okay you are more likely to repeat it. It’s also true that if it does not work out you learn a valuable lesson about what to do better the next time. This is how you build your resilience and create a career portfolio that provides opportunities for growth and better work-life integration.
By far, my biggest career risk was that as an entrepreneur, moving away from a long career in the corporate world with no idea this would have been 3 weeks before ‘shelter in place’. As you may recall, this was the start of what became known as the Covid-19 pandemic. What did I learn with this move? How to do things better through trial and error, to be more adaptable and agile, be creative and collaborate better.
Career moves can serve to both uplevel and stretch your skillsets. Regardless of when you take a calculated career move, you can literally change the trajectory of your career. The new skills you acquire through these new experiences can move your income brackets upwards. Not to mention the renewed energy it brings to everything you do and the resilience and grit you build.
So, what is going to be your next bold career move?
