Happiness, Satisfaction, & Change: Day 4.1
Happiness, Career Changes and Talent?
During my consulting career I’ve watched two things impact a person’s sense of “What should I be doing with my life?”
1. A job change initiated by an employer.This is usually a reorganization or layoff that causes people to evaluate what else might be a good fit within the existing company or what to focus on in the midst of a sudden job search.
2. A personal crisis: “What I’m doing at work isn’t satisfying. There must be more to my life than this!”
Both situations offer an opportunity to find more happiness, satisfaction, and contentment.
If you look around, you’ll find different approaches to career development. Some focus on one’s interests, others talk about skills; you’ll see tools that ask you to clarify your values (what’s really important to you); and finally there is, at last, a valid movement that addresses talents and giftedness.
Much of the work I do is with corporations and individuals involved in 1 and/or 2 above. Both involve having control over meaningful changes in one’s life.
Fortunately there are companies out there that offer support in the event of the first situation. (Unfortunately, there are many that do not, with the result being a lot of wasted talent that could have been used in ways never imagined).
What I think I’ve learned is this: there are 3 key areas to focus on when you seek more congruency in your working life.
So I put together a little slide show that I hope will add some clarity to how you view your career. If you are a manager, think about how you might use this to view people’s potential a bit differently than you might be doing now.
This was my first go at putting together a presentation and uploading it, but I think it works OK.
Let me know what you think.(I normally use Typepad at the home blog and couldn’t figure out how to get the embedded code to work in WordPress no matter how many different tutorials I followed:-)
Here’s the video link for Using Your Talents.
Steve Roesler of All Things Workplace continues searching WordPress tutorials as the sun rises over the sylvan setting of Southern New Jersey.
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Karin H. Said,
February 8, 2008 @ 12:50 pm
Nice one Steve – the presentation ‘feels’ great.
And she really couldn’t ‘wing it’ now, could she?
Finding your talents is so important for a happy life! But even more important is finding a way to use them effectively, to dare to follow your talents – even if your ‘surrounding’ influences (partner, family, boss, friends) try to talk you ‘down’ again, mostly out of fear of change (now where did I hear that before ;-)
I’ve been fortunate to have (re)found my talents and being surrounded by supporters who urges me on to discover more and utilise those talents to the best of my ability. I’m forever grateful to them, because they made it even more possible and easier to by happy.
Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
Steve Roesler Said,
February 8, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
Karin,
It sure helps to have people in your circle who are eager to help lift you up as you try out new things in life. It sounds as if you’ve got the right circle!
BTW: Have the talked with yet about a career as a comedienne? :-)
Karin H. Said,
February 8, 2008 @ 5:01 pm
Hi Steve
Start to think I have a ‘talent’ to find the best circle (per project even).
Now where does that remark about comedienne come from?!? ;-)
Karin H.
Steve Roesler Said,
February 8, 2008 @ 5:10 pm
Well, Karin, clearly a talent to find the best circle offers exponential rewards!
Karin H. Said,
February 8, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
Don’t I just know it!
And then the happiness of unconditional reciprocity begins ;-)
Karin H
Galba Bright of Tune up your EQ Said,
February 9, 2008 @ 3:52 am
Hello Steve:
The Carpenters never sounded so good. ;). I like the presentation. I “buy” the idea of the model. In your experience, howlong does it take a person to work their way through it?
Steve Roesler Said,
February 9, 2008 @ 4:14 am
Galba,
Length of time depends on whether you have the talent of The Carpenters or Wing.
But seriously, folks. . .
I have a structured process with proprietary talent assessment instrumentation and a coaching element that enables people to work through it effectively. The time period can vary. My experience with this approach so far (past 6 years) has been that most folks become energized and work through it in a month or two. Some choose to take a little longer intentionally, because they feel more comfortable watching as things unfold.
It’s one part of my own professional practice that really energizes me as well. It’s very satisfying to participate in that kind of discovery.
The one element that I have not included, in depth, is and EQ component. Maybe this is the beginning of another conversation for us :-)