Career Refresh Digest #48
Welcome to the latest edition of the Career Refresh Digest.
This issue is for anyone who's convinced the only way to fix things at work is to find a new job, and offers some other perspectives.
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WORTH THINKING ABOUT
Before you decide to leave
When work isn't going well, most people start thinking about a new job. And for many people I work with, leaving is the right call. They build the confidence to back themselves and find something that fits better.
But it isn't always the outcome. Sometimes a better fit is possible in the role they already have.
Once people have a clearer understanding of what they need to thrive at work, they're better able to recognise what's already working in their current role, and what isn't. From there, they can look at whether they're able to influence change in the things that aren't working.
For example, I worked with a client who was miserable in her role and convinced the only solution was a new job. But the more we worked through her criteria for a good fit, the more she realised how much of her current role suited her. It also became clear which parts of the work drained her. Because she could name exactly what wasn't working, she was able to have a constructive conversation with her manager, who was open to shaping the role around more of what suited her and less of what didn't.
If you're unhappy at work, leaving might be the answer. Before you decide, get clear on exactly what isn't working. That's what tells you whether you need a new role, or changes to the one you have.
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WORTH DOING
What do you want to be known for?
If you want to see what could change in your current role before deciding whether to leave, there are often chances to shape it. These might come up during performance or goal-setting conversations, or when new pieces of work or projects come along.
That's why it's important to know which of your skills you most enjoy using, so you can be more deliberate about how you use them at work.
That includes what you put your hand up for, what you become known for, and what you hand over or step back from when you can.
Try this:
Name three or four skills you most enjoy using, the ones that leave you energised.
Note where your current role already uses them, and where it could use them more.
Consider whether you're currently using skills you're good at but that drain you.
Pick one thing coming up that you could say yes to because it plays to your energising skills, and one thing you could decline, hand over or do less of.
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If you're weighing up whether to stay or go and want help working out what you need from your work, book a free 15-minute call to see if my coaching programme is a good fit.
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That's it from me for this fortnight. Have a good week.
– Lucy
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ABOUT THE CAREER REFRESH DIGEST
The Career Refresh Digest is a fortnightly newsletter for mid-career professionals who feel stuck or out of step with their work. Each issue shares practical insights and tools to help you reset direction, make clearer decisions, and reshape your work to better fit your life – drawing on recommendations, research, and insights from client work.