How can I navigate a career crossroads or transition? A guide to help sustainability leaders find clarity
If you’re confused about your next step in your sustainability leadership career, then this article is for you. I’ll distil the wisdom I gained from my own 25-year career in corporate leadership, as well as the steps I help my one-to-one coaching clients navigate. We’ll talk about your strengths, leaning into curiosity and exploration, and taking the time to consider what’s really holding you back.
Start with a feeling, then get more specific over time
When you’re at a career crossroads, or contemplating your next step, it can often feel overwhelming. When I talk to my clients at the start of a coaching relationship, they’re often in this place of confusion. Whilst it can be tempting to draw up a pros and cons list of all the options on the table at this stage, sometimes this very rational approach can disconnect you from what you really want. The “best, rational decision” may not actually be right for you.
So, first tune into the feeling you want your next role to give you. Do you want to feel more freedom, more security, more autonomy, more opportunities for connection, more opportunities for deep focussed work?
What are you good at? What do you want to do more of? What do you want to do less of?
When you’re contemplating your development plan or any career change, it’s always important to get really clear on your strengths - in terms of your talents, your skills, your experience and your qualifications - make a nice long list. I’m not telling you anything new there. But the bit that we sometimes miss, is taking a really good look at those strengths and considering which of those things we actually enjoy. Sometimes we can get highly qualified, experienced and skilled in things that actually drain us, that demotivate us, that frustrate us.
So, before you do anything else, look through your list of strengths and highlight which of them actually light you up. You may want to work with a coach or mentor at this point to dive into your values - this can help crystallise at a deeper level what brings you joy at work. This then becomes the starting point for exploring which roles can help you do more of what you enjoy, and less of what you don’t.
Exploration phase
If you are in a position to take some time to consider your next career move, then I would encourage you to start with a period of very open exploration. Go into this phase with some questions you’d like to find out the answer to. For example, can I earn the money I need to working closer to nature? Or… will I be hustling all the time if I go freelance? If you are scientifically minded you could create some specific hypotheses to test. If you’re a more creative and instinctive type then just follow your instinct, and go with what you’re interested in. Having a curious and experimental mindset in this phase will help you to open up to new possibilities, career options you may not have considered before, and new connections who might create interesting opportunities.
This phase can require an element of bravery and courage to reach out to new people. Yes, you might get ghosted. But if you contact enough people with a relaxed, appreciative and helpful approach, then you will connect with the people you need to.The more people you reach out to, the more conversations you’ll end up having.
Get specific, but tune into the nuance
As you work through your exploration, you can start to flesh out the details of the role you’re looking for. How much direct leadership do you want from your next role, do you want more strategic work or something more hands on? What are your requirements around location, income, working hours?
It’s also worth remembering that there will be nuance in different types of work. As a consultant you could work within the structure and security of a large organisation, or you could have complete freedom and autonomy as an independent contractor. An in-house role might provide you with a multitude of collaboration opportunities or you may be working alone much of the time.
Notice what’s holding you back
Finally, as you start to bring more colour to your career plans, it’s really important to listen to what your inner voice is telling you. Are you picking something because it feels easy? Are you telling yourself it’s too competitive? Are you telling yourself you’re not experienced enough? Perhaps there’s something about money holding you back, or about your own skills, or about your confidence. Listen to what’s going on there and challenge yourself. Is this really true? Or is it something I’ve come to believe over time?
This is where talking your next chapter through with a coach or mentor can be really valuable. They can help you unpick the fact from the fiction, and work out where you might be getting in your own way, where you might be holding yourself back from the next career chapter you really want.
I hope you’ve found this useful. Let me know what you think.
From Liv 💛
P.S. If you’ve found this useful, then please join my weekly email community for regular doses of wisdom like this, straight to your inbox. If you’re interested in working with me, then check out my 121 coaching packages and use this link to arrange an initial chat with me. And if you’d like me to talk to your team, organisation or community about this, or any of my other articles, then please reach out via email to enquire about speaking/workshop engagements.
