Career or Ceiling?

In the highly dynamic field of change and transformation, building a successful career demands more than simply coasting along. It's about being intentional and mindful of your ability to design and craft your career to reach new heights. You need to be prepared when opportunities arise, agile enough to navigate and create your own opportunities, and free from limitations or ceilings that could hinder your progress.

A Successful Career in Change & Transformation

Personally speaking, I don’t believe being in change and transformation is about a 9-5 static, boring job. If you are in this field, it’s a choice, a calling, and a need for impact.

We know that change is constant, and there will never be a shortage of it, so theoretically, you should never be out of a job. However, this may not be the reality for most, yet.

That’s because many are focused on the job in hand, contract, or role rather than creating a career and driving a meaningful one. To truly succeed, you must create a compelling value proposition and stay ahead of the curve.

This is about the following:

Be 2-3 Steps Ahead of the Market

To stay relevant, you must anticipate market trends and position yourself ahead of the curve. This is not just about going to certify in AI! there is a lot more to that than learning the new technology

Develop Depth in Your Skills and Knowledge

Your skills should be deeply rooted holistically and in a multi-disciplinary manner, giving you a unique edge and multiple options.

Learn with Purpose

Acquiring new knowledge should be purposeful, adding real value rather than just filling up your toolkit.

False Success and Hidden Limitations

The same role over and over again:

Being in the same role(or similar roles) for a long time doesn’t make you an expert; it just means you’ve become comfortable. True growth comes from diversification of roles, problems, structure, scale, and industries.

Specialization to the T

While specialization can be beneficial, locking yourself in just one or two areas for many years can limit your growth and opportunities for higher responsibility and larger scope roles.

Titles are deceiving

Titles like GM, Executive, or Director do not guarantee success in the next role. I’ve seen managers with immense potential and executives with rigid thinking and shallow knowledge, and vice versa.

Stuck to a sector or function

When you're known only within one sector, it can become a red flag. For example, being labelled as "the change manager for banks" or "the transformation lead for IT" can limit your opportunities.

Market Maturity to Hire the Right Calibre

Having worked in many organizations across 15 countries, I’ve witnessed various levels of market maturity when it comes to recognizing and hiring the right leaders. Some people advance to higher roles because they have a well-connected network, are good at articulating and presenting themselves well, keep the peace and avoid rocking the boat, get lucky, or are given a chance due to a lack of suitable candidates.

The real issue lies in the consequences of these appointments:

• Cost to Self: High-stress levels from being unfit for the role.
• Cost to Organization: Lack of significant change, leading to stagnation and toxicity.
• Cost to Team: Toxic environments, lack of clarity, shifting priorities, and poor management.

For the Amazing Leaders and Professionals Out There

You know that the scenarios described above are real and continue to happen. Waiting patiently for a promotion or the perfect job, hoping for the best, or fearing redundancy isn’t a strategy. Staying still and hoping isn’t a strategy.

Just certifying and learning new tools isn’t enough, either.

You need a holistic strategy that elevates your inner game and integrates your learnings, expertise, and experience into an irrefutable value proposition to help you stand out in a crowded market.

That’s why my focus on working with leaders and professionals like you is on being Relevant and keeping it that way.

Being Relevant is About Your:

1- Positioning

Establish a clear and compelling value proposition that highlights your unique contributions and strengths, ensuring that your role aligns with the strategic direction of the organization and market opportunities.

2- Presence

Build and maintain a strong professional presence that showcases your expertise and keeps you visible in your industry. This involves creating a compelling profile and consistently sharing your core insights and knowledge.

3- Potential

Continuously develop your potential by staying fit for the future, expanding your influence, and committing to intentional growth. This ensures you remain adaptable and prepared for emerging opportunities.

Don’t wait; Let’s do it

Want to hear more and learn a few things to help you out? Come join me on Thursday, 27th June, at 5 PM Sydney Time for a face-to-face event (that will also be live-streamed via zoom so you can join from anywhere).

Connect with like-minded professionals, gain actionable insights, and explore opportunities to advance your career.

Event Details:

• Date and Time: Thursday, 27th June at 5 PM Sydney Time
• Location: Virtual and face-to-face (Sydney CBD)

👉⭕️ To register, please visit https://www.peopleoftransformation.com/June-24-Event-Registration

I look forward to seeing you there!

Best regards,

Jess