202.244.3738

Dear Friends and Clients,

I’ve often been asked, “Is there some special system that you use when you coach people?” The short answer is “no” -- coaching focuses on the client’s own goals, and every situation is different.

On the other hand, there is a two-phased approach for managing transitions that I’ve shared with others and used repeatedly in my own life. I think of as “The Process.” It’s pretty basic but I’ve seen it work time and again.

If you’re thinking about changing your job, or changing direction in some other part of your life, you may find The Process to be helpful.

With warm wishes,
Bev

Use This Process to Move Ahead
Even If You Don’t Yet Know
Where You Want To Go!

June 21, 2005 * Number 17

Are you feeling stuck, bored or frustrated by some part of your life? We all have low points and down times, but it is possible to learn skills and techniques for working our way out of the doldrums.

A common dilemma is that we don’t like our current situation but don’t know how to move out of it. If, for example, you want to redirect your career, try applying the simple, two-phased strategy that I call “The Process.”

Phase One of The Process: Define Your Goal

In Phase One you describe your goal in as much detail as possible. Obviously, it’s hard to start moving when you don’t know where you’re going. But the more vividly you define your goal – the more clearly you can envision it -- the more likely it is that you will achieve it.

As I coach, I’ve heard people complain that they know what they don’t want but the big problem is that they have no idea what they do want. Once we start talking, however, clients generally discover that defining their goals is surprisingly easy.

The task for Phase One is to prepare a list of things that you know you want in the next phase of your career, then transform the list into a brief Vision Statement that you can keep handy and look at frequently. Here are some tips for developing your Vision Statement:

Accentuate the positive. As you prepare to list the things that you want in your next phase, start by listing the good and not so good aspects of your current situation. Take some time to recognize benefits that you may take for granted but are reluctant to lose. For example, if your job is boring but you love your co-workers, your list might include: “A team environment, a sense of community, and friendly, supportive colleagues.”
Rephrase the negative. As you note the current negatives, rephrase them as positives for your wish list. For example, if you feel isolated in your current job, “frequent interaction with colleagues” might be an item on your wish list.
Look at your whole life. As you envision your ideal career, place it in the context of your broader life. Imagine the perfect day and the perfect week, and ask yourself about the kind of career changes that could make it easier to have times like these.
Write it out. If you’re having trouble defining where you want to go, write this question: “What would my perfect career look like?” Then answer the question by writing for 20 minutes, quickly stating any thoughts that come to mind in response to the question. Wait a day or two, then do that again. And then once more.
Picture it. The list is important because it’ll help you be specific as you formulate the goals for your next career phase. One reason to reduce the list to a succinct Vision Statement is to make it easy to carry it around and read it often. Beyond that, research suggests that you are most likely to move toward your ideal if the new situation is so clear in your mind that you can see it.
Refine it over time. When you first set out your Vision, a lot of the details may still be missing. That’s OK. Be specific about what you do know, and be confident that other details will emerge and maybe even change as The Process moves forward.

Phase Two of The Process: Schedule small steps

Once you have written out your Vision Statement, and even if there are still a number of uncertainties, it’s time to get moving. Commit yourself to taking small steps toward your Vision on a regular basis. Steps might include revising your resume, seeking advice from a friend, or joining a new professional group. It counts if you take very small steps, like placing a call to one friend with whom you’ve lost contact.

If you’re feeling pressed for time, perhaps a single small step each day will be the pace you want. If you are very eager to move forward, you may want to take three steps daily. Experiment a bit to find the pace that works for you.

What is critical is that you commit to a pace and actually take the steps. Change may come slowly, but it will come, and developments will occur more rapidly as time goes by. Keep these points in mind as you identify small steps:

It’s like sailing a boat. A lot of the steps you take may feel like they just move you sideways. That’s fine – the important thing is to keep moving, even if you must tack back and forth before you get a tail wind.
Take steps to build your network. Making new friends and acquaintances is almost always helpful when you are trying to change your world. Even if new or revitalized relationships don’t seem tied to your Vision, they may help you to get new ideas, spot opportunities or find a different perspective.
Ask for help. Most people like to be asked for advice, and many people are willing to offer modest career assistance.
Play the long shots. Don’t pass up opportunities because they seem uncertain. For example, go on job interviews even if the jobs aren’t perfect. You’ll get some practice and you might learn about another position that could be right for you.
Attack the barriers. Sometimes the most important steps are the ones that help you overcome the obstacles that are holding you back. If you need a new skill, for example, a key step may be signing up for classes.
Act as if you’re already there. You’ll reach the future more quickly if you practice acting like it’s already here. If you want to be a vice president, imagine how your ideal VP would behave and try to exhibit that behavior. If you want to be more confident, practice behaving like a confident person would.
Be creative. As time goes by, you may have trouble thinking up steps. Push yourself to try something new, something different. Often it’s those less obvious steps that are the most powerful. And the only wrong step is when you do nothing at all.

If you keep taking steps, The Process will work!

Career success takes a team: Whether you’re a sole practitioner or a Fortune 500 executive, you’re more likely to be successful if you can rely on a supportive team. The members of your own personal team may range from your lawyer to your hair stylist, but they all must be people you can count on. Do you want to bring new direction and energy to your professional career? It may be time to add a coach to your team. Contact Bev if you want to learn more about coaching.

Bev’s Tips for a Better Work Life is published on the first and third Tuesday of each month by Beverly E. Jones of ClearWays Consulting, LLC. Bev is a lawyer and former executive who now coaches accomplished attorneys and other professionals to bring new direction, energy and enjoyment to their work lives.

All rights in all media reserved. However, the content of Bev’s Tips for a Better Work Life may be forwarded in full without special permission on the condition that (1) it is for non-profit use and (2) full attribution and copyright notice are given. For other uses please contact Bev Jones.

Our address is: 2925 43rd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20016.