Adapt, thrive, evolve
It would be something of a cliché to say that it is not the strongest that survive but the smartest and those most able to evolve. This very issue came up in a coaching call this morning and I think that there are some ideas you might find useful, which we can unpack further and use to create an action plan.
You’ll change. Over time, you are going to evolve and change. Your values will shift due to stage of life changes. You might be at the beginning, middle or end of your career and that will definitely change your values. Equally, it might also happen because of a Significant Emotional Event. For example, recovering from a serious illness or starting a family is likely to give you a different perspective on life and your career, and consequently change your priorities.
Furthermore, you may have added to your skills, qualifications and experiences. You might have been promoted in a way that opens up future opportunities
Your job will change. It might be that what was once a highly prized skill set is no longer valued in the same way. Your role has become commoditised or could be done by a less skilled and experienced person - not quite as well - but at a third of the price. Perhaps you were in a team that was seen as core and essential to the firm, but is now less so. Not only will your job change but the firm within which you are working will also change. That will affect, for better or worse, your prospects. Let’s look at those in more detail. It could include changes in:
The wider culture, for example, the drive for ESG and D&I.
The culture of your firm as a result of the arrival of a new leadership team or individuals of influence.
The microculture of your team - following changes driven by the leadership or perhaps because key people leave or join.
The strategic direction of the firm takes it in a new direction, such as following a merger with another firm.
The regulatory environment - e.g. Mifid II.
The geopolitical landscape, such as war, trade treaties, etc.
The impact of technology, notably Artificial Intelligence in today’s day and age
So with all that said, what can you do about this in a way that will optimise your career? Here are four ideas that I hope will help.
Dashboard. Anticipate what changes are most likely to affect you and which will have the most impact. Then, create your dashboard of indicators to watch out for. Many of those indicators will derive from that short list above.
Two further things to note here: first, think about what information sources are likely to give you the necessary information in a timely manner - thought pieces, blogs, podcasts, reliable new sources and colleagues. Second, ask yourself the questions: ‘What could this mean for me, my job and my career?’ And then keep drilling down with the follow up question, ‘ What else could this mean for….?.’
Adopt a Dual Focus Strategy. The first focus is to keep your head down and deliver very high levels of value to your firm, colleagues, clients, etc. The second is to lift your head up and look at the changes happening around you and check in with your dashboard.
Create a Plan B. You absolutely don’t want to be caught on the back foot. Instead, you want to have in place all the things that we discuss with our coaching clients, so that should something happen, you are ahead of the game and not caught flat footed (in the penalty box watching the ball whizz past you!). Be prepared.
Time to Act, Clarify and Verify. Before putting anything into action, check your assumptions. Verify that the signals that it’s time to take action are in fact there. Maybe speak to a trusted advisor. Review your options and that your thinking remains updated and still stands up to scrutiny. Once you have gone through that check, it’s time to take action and get on with it.
I really hope this helps. We live in a world that is changing, and changing fast. Having this awareness and doing this planning will help you future proof yourself so that you absolutely maximise your career in whatever way that looks for you.