I've recently returned to private practice after three years of salaried, structured, corporate experience, and I've learned a lot. I've also got a completely blank canvas in front of me, and I'm finding that it's a great (and daunting) opportunity to turn many of my own processes on myself. So I thought I'd share my early, and as yet only partly formed, summary of my learning as a first step, in the spirit of helping others accelerate their own reinvention process.
1) Walk your talk. If you really believe something, act as if you do. Never - EVER - compromise your values and principles for anything - not a paycheck, not your ego - not anything! It will catch up with you, and cost you a lot. Think long term.
2) Listen to your gut. No matter what your head is telling you, there's some part of your body that knows better. For some it's their stomach, others it's the muscles in the back of their neck - but most of us have some body part that sends us a message when our head isn't listening properly. The most thorough analysis and the most logical logic can, and most often should, be trumped by that unspecific yet persistent feeling that wants to send your decision the opposite direction.
3) Get your needs met before making major decisions. If you're hoping that you'll be able to avoid a difficult choice or situation by making an easy or available change, you'll be wrong. We all have needs - more on that in a later post - and we all need to get them met before we can make really high quality decisions.
4) Never assume you're untouchable. Those of us who've been doing whatever it is we do at the top of the game for any length of time might, on occasion, suffer from a bit of ego. Yes, it's true. And the very instant you let your ego overtake your humility or commitment to service and learning, you're toast.
5) Find out whether the things you think you can change really want to change at all. I've allowed myself to be hired as an "agent of change" not once, not twice, but yes, three times. And guess what? It's never as easy or as fun or as gratifying as it's sold to be, and when the going gets tough, change (and its agents) is nobody's idea of a good time.
There will be more, I'm sure, but at this point I believe that if I keep these five guiding principles in mind I'll create my future path in a sustainable, positive, fulfilling direction, and that's something that I'm pretty excited about.
Karen Wright One of Canada's most experienced and respected executive coaches and coaching business leaders, Karen represents a team of associates and alliance partners offering services in executive coaching, assessment, wellness support and career management/transition. Full Profile & Contact Information...
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