Taking charge: your path to professional success
‘I am not where I want to be in my career and I am not happy in my current job. After working my ass off for this career I now wonder whether this road has been worth all the time, effort, and commitment. I am out of energy. On the other hand I earn well, am respected by leadership, and play to my strengths. I don’t know what a next opportunity might bring. It feels like I am stuck in a golden cage.’
This sense of being trapped in a golden cage is a sentiment echoed by many professionals who yearn for more but aren't sure how to break free. Recently two of my coachees decided to work out HOW to get out of this place and challenge the status quo. They were ready to embrace, and work towards, change. Their stories show the importance of personal control and the transformative power of embracing change in the pursuit of professional fulfillment.
🎮 Personal control 🎮
The chaos that comes with change is very uncomfortable to many, which leads professionals and organizations to survive rather than thrive.
You, however, deserve to feel in control and experience success even in turbulent times.
Personal control is the belief that you can achieve positive outcomes or avoid negative effects through your actions. It's linked to emotional well-being, stress management, improved performance, and making challenging behavior changes (Thompson & Spacapan, 1991). When feeling out of control, you have two options: blame external factors or accept reality. The first path leads to frustration, stress, and loss of energy. The second requires courage and bravery to assess what you can do and influence outcomes.
🧭 It's your decision 🧭
As my coachees discovered, the path to personal fulfillment begins with self-reflection and introspection. By asking themselves tough questions – Can I change the situation? Can I accept it? Should I leave? – they gained clarity and perspective on their next steps. This process may initially bring chaos to your thoughts, but it ultimately leads to greater clarity and understanding of your own desires and limitations.
🌱 Transforming chaos to professional success 🌱
One coachee realized that his biggest struggle stemmed from communication issues with his manager. By accepting this reality, we were able to work on improving their professional relationship assertively. The other coachee recognized that staying in his current situation would not change his dissatisfaction, prompting him to create more space for himself and his future. Both paths require courage, resilience, and a willingness to embrace change.
Taking charge is the first step towards transforming chaos into professional success.
You deserve to experience fulfillment and success in your career too. If you're ready to take control of your career and explore new opportunities for growth and development, I invite you to reach out.
Thompson, S. C. & Spacapan, S. (1991). Perceptions of control in vulnerable populations. Journal of Social Issues, 47, 1-21.
🪄 Curious about how we could work together? 🪄
You are ready to take charge your career. I guide professionals towards experiencing more fulfillment and success in work by creating a refreshing way of thinking about their career.
Let me know if you'd like to have a chat with me, and we'll talk soon.
Charlotte Hoekstra
Certified Career Coach, MSc in Organizational Psychology & Change Management