Today’s Career Transition Is All About Pivots

Today’s Career Transition Is All About Pivots

Today’s Career Transition Is All About Pivots

The traditional career ladder is no more. Job roles can change drastically within a few years, which is also the average time that employees stay with one employer. So, we need a new way to think about job transitions.

I like the term “career pivot”. The traditional definition of a verb is used in basketball:

To keep one foot in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot one step in any direction.

Google career guru and author of Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One, Jenny Blake, describes a career pivot in a recent interview with SHRM’s HR Magazine:

“A purposeful shift in a new, related direction that one makes by doubling down on what is already working. Typically, ‘pivot’ refers to a strategy shift, moving from Plan A to Plan B to save a business from dwindling profits or a dismal forecast. But when it comes to our careers, learning to pivot – within our roles and job paths—is the new Plan A.”

If you are considering a career move, here are some thoughts to ponder!

Adjust your thinking about today’s career transitions.

Pivoting is the new normal and in fact, career plateaus are a good thing. They indicate a desire to make a greater impact. Instead of thinking that there’s a crisis point, reframe your thinking to it being an opportunity to be grasped! Celebrate it, because it means that you are wanting to make greater contributions to your workplace and your community!

Know when to make a change.

That career plateau is the sweet spot, according to Blake. That’s the point where you feel work is “okay,” but you know there’s room for enhancement in terms of tapping your strengths on the job to learn and innovate within your role.

Recognize those plateaus, because it can mean the difference between you choosing to change – or change choosing you! We see this often in the sense of burnout and stress. In some cases, people get pivoted – companies get acquired, reorganize and send people on their way. Even in these latter situations, you can still act as a pivoter. Review what was working best in your previous role? How does that knowledge help you in your next position?

Test the waters.

Pivoting is all about small steps. Blake calls them “career pilots” – low-risk experiments to explore your hypothesis about your best next move. A good pilot should help determine what she calls the Three E’s”

  • Enjoyment. Do I like working on this new focus area?
  • Expertise. Can I become an expert at it, and do I want to?
  • Expansion. Is there more opportunity within the market (or the company) for me to dedicate my efforts more fully in this direction?

Beware of pivot pitfalls.

What often holds people back is waiting for that next perfect move or targeting too far outside what is working now and existing strengths, connections, interests, or experiences.

Also, avoid that roadblock imposed when you don’t have a vision for your career a year from now. Even if you don’t know specifically, think about what makes you happy in work, and where your greatest contributions lie. Blake likens it to having a navigation app you can plug into. Without this one-year concept, you may focus too much on what you don’t want. Conversation and movement can get stuck.

Listen to your gut.

Gut instinct is critical in knowing when to pivot. Sleep, nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness practices are all helpful for tapping into your expert and wise advisor – your own instincts and intuition. Certainly, there will be other indicators of a right move – salary, job role, location, or company culture. But overall, most pivoters know when they land the right fit! It feels aligned with their values, strengths, and one-year vision for success!

And Blake says to think of decisions as data. One can only pose questions for so long; then it’s important to have action.

Not every pivot works out as planned. That doesn’t mean that pivot wasn’t successful! Think of pivots in terms of taking smart risks and stretching into unknown territory. Feeling alive and invigorated. Learning. Gaining clarity that helps navigate change. Every single pivot enlightens the next. Sometimes larger pivots necessitate a series of several smaller rotations. Remember those small steps!

I always love to hear from you! Please comment below.

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