Most HBS students are aware of the complementary coaching opportunities available through Career & Professional Development (CPD). Yet many of them, and their alumni colleagues, may not know that coaching remains available to them long after graduation, and can be an outstanding resource for midcareer professionals.
"The triggers are different," says Timothy Butler, Senior Fellow and Faculty Advisor to HBS CPD. "Students are inspired by a predictable crisis – graduation. For alumni, the crises are often unpredictable: a sense that a new direction is needed, an urgent health issue, the loss of a job." The midcareer professional may have a desire to go deeper. Or may recognize that their accumulated knowledge and experience can open previously unavailable options.
Whatever the motivation, Butler believes, coaching can help participants move forward, in life as well as in career. "Career decisions are life decisions," he says. "All the dimensions of your life will be part of your career decision-making; anything that impinges on your choices merits attention."
Re-visioning the
fundamentals
Regardless of where one is on the career path – at the
starting gate or far along the road – the fundamental dimensions of career
vision, strategy and tactics remain relevant. But with experience, the content
of these dimensions can change dramatically. "Life is intricate,"
says Butler. "Our experience as our careers unfold makes our lives more
complex, foreclosing some opportunities and opening others." As we mature,
we need to reflect on how the fundamentals have changed, and what consequences
these changes have on our lives and careers. Areas for reflection include:
Identity
Our roles (what we do, what skills
we apply) change as we acquire more knowledge and experience. "The
question is, 'what will my role be next?' Part of it is shaped by your deeply
embedded life interests," Butler says. "Your identity will be
modified by where you currently are
in your lifecycle."
Community
In terms of organizational culture,
what have you learned about the places where you work and where you would like
to work? "Often, you've learned the hard way that culture has an enormous
impact on your job satisfaction. As you gain experience, you become better at
getting a feel for a culture before you commit." Midcareer, you have an
opportunity to make more informed choices about which communities you'd like to
join – and which you'd prefer to avoid.
Necessity
As we age, our obligations change
over time: some decrease, such as child care responsibilities, while others,
like health and retirement planning, increase. By definition, our obligations
make pressing demands upon us. But we often have more leeway than we imagine. "We
always need to look honestly at what really
is a necessity for us," Butler urges.
Horizon
Horizon, your deepest and most
central aspirations, "are a lifelong project," says Butler. "We
may have experiences that draw us closer to the impermanence of life,
challenging us to define what's really essential. The question is, how do we
understand life in its fullest and what does that mean for my next career or
life decision?"
Get real
Effective coaching, at any age or stage, begins with where
you are, here and now. Fortunately, there's one thing it should not begin with.
"Don't come with the first draft of your action plan!" says Butler. "One
of the things that coaching can do is help you understand what the real issues
are – and it's okay if they're complex or thorny."
Give yourself permission to not know exactly what you want or where you're going. Instead of a plan, coaching participants are better served by bringing an open mind and a willingness to reflect.
"The four dimensions of career decision-making – identity, community, necessity and horizon – are always active and in need of attention," says Butler. "The more self-aware we are, the more we realize how they are showing themselves at this particular moment in our lives and how they shape our next choices."