Wednesday 27 August 2014

Thinking About A Change of Career?

If you are currently assessing your happiness and are not happy in your current career you may be considering a career change as one option. If this is you then please read on.

Maybe you are feeling under or over challenged and this is negatively impacting your mental and physical health.

Or is the main reason you are considering your options that you do not feel that you are recognised for your achievements.

Whatever the reason for your career review it helps to plan a way forwards.

Research shows that a key part of work satisfaction and fulfilment aside from providing a realistic challenge and recognition for your achievements is having your key values met - what is important to you. The research shows that if your key values are not met you will not be happy at work and will probably suffer health issues.

For example if a key value is helping people then you may be compromising this value in working for an organisation that could be seem as working against helping people such as a tobacco or fast food provider.

You can start by brainstorming your values without limitation including values outside of your career that could be impacted by your career, such as your health and family.

From your list of values what are your top 3 that you would not compromise on?

I recommend that you now consider what you are interested in that you would consider as a career. Perhaps there are 2-3 areas of interest that you would like to make up a portfolio career.

Next think about which of the areas of interest would meet your top 3 values best.

Further considerations include whether you work for yourself or an existing organisation. If you decide upon the latter, again would you top 3 values be met? Visiting the organisation's web site and offices as well as talking to existing staff can provide insights here.

Rather than waiting for a vacancy to arise in your selected field and organisations, you could provide speculative approaches with a tailored CV and cover letter.

At interview stage it helps to prepare for a competency based interview process. This can be an experience that you have not had or not had for some time and would benefit from support to prepare.

If you would like help with your career transition please do get in touch via www.westofenglandcoachingandcounselling.co.uk or telephone on 01761 237400

Monday 18 August 2014

Your Individual Coaching for Life Progression?

To help you to decide if individual Coaching would help you to make progress in your life, it may help you to consider the 4 main reasons that people seek out individual Coaching:

1. You need/want to stop doing something. For example, stop taking things very personally, stop focussing on the wrong things or stop missing deadlines!

2. You need/want to do something that you are not currently doing. For example, you want to find ways to switch off from work at will, you want to start selling your services or you want to look for another job!

3. You need/want to feel a certain way in certain scenarios. For example, you want to feel confidence when presenting yourself to others such as in an interview or formal presentation situation.

4. You need/want to do something better. For example, you want to plan better or manage your time or workload better so that you are focussed on the right things to get you the results that you need/want.

Are there things that you are thinking about now that you would like to change?

What do you want to work through?

How do you want to be different?

What is the 1 thing, the number 1 priority for you, that if you changed it for the positive, would have the single biggest positive impact on your life?

How will your life be different when you have made this change?

How are you feeling now?

Motivated to some level I would think.

This is because your mind is already starting to think about the benefits of your making this change.

If you are smart your mind will also be already thinking of ways to help you to make this change.

If you are really self disciplined then you may make these changes on your own.

A coach serves you on a number of levels including giving you support and structure to make changes that it is hard to make alone.

If you would like to find out more about whether individual coaching would help you in your work or personal life please visit us at www.westofenglandcoachingandcounselling.co.uk or call us on 01761 237400.