5 Strategies to Build Career Resilience
We all have a need for security. If you’re familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, you know that this is an essential need. We all desire to have some sort of job or financial security that gives us a sense of safety and assurance. However, we may experience seasons when that security is potentially threatened. Whether you’re starting your career during a pandemic, preparing for a potential layoff, lost a few prominent clients, or planning a career pivot, it can be hard to focus when your livelihood is lost or at stake. However, now is not the time to throw in the towel. While your job may have posed some challenges or has come to an end, it doesn’t mean that your career has to be put on hold. You can persevere during this time with a little extra faith and resilience. Here are 5 strategies for building career resilience during these times.
Adopt a growth mindset.
Do you have a growth or fixed mindset? According to psychologist Carol Dweck, “a fixed mindset assumes that our character, intelligence, and creative ability are static givens which we can’t change in any meaningful way, while a growth mindset thrives on challenge and sees failure not as evidence of unintelligence but as a heartening springboard for growth and for stretching our existing abilities.” A growth mindset doesn’t ignore reality or setbacks but sees them as opportunities for growth. Take some time to grieve and reflect, but don’t allow yourself to stay there. Choose to adopt a growth mindset by acknowledging your less than favorable circumstances and letting them be a springboard for the next chapter of your career.
Revisit your career vision and goals.
Once you’ve adopted a growth mindset, it’s important to revisit your career vision and goals. Your vision provides direction for your future destination, and your goals create the milestones and focus to get you there. Before making any rash decisions ask yourself the following questions:
Am I making Spirit-led and purpose-filled decisions or fear-based ones?
Do my actions reflect the vision that I have for my life and career?
Do my goals align with my purpose and life and career vision?
If the answer is no, don’t let lack or fear paralyze you or cause you to wander off track. Although your goals and priorities may look different in this season, you can still make progress. Remember your why, reconnect to your vision, and refocus on your goals to refresh and encourage you during this season.
Look for growth opportunities.
Resilient people are always looking for ways to learn and grow. Seek out opportunities for professional development. Create a purpose and professional development plan that includes your purpose, vision, goals, and any skills that you need to develop that will be better equip you in your purpose and career. LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, Coursera, Career Contessa, as well as Life Designer University all offer affordable courses on skill and professional development. Don’t be afraid to tap into your company’s professional development fund, ask your manager for mentoring, or even consider hiring a coach to elevate you in the next phase of your career. Resilience is all about being willing to adapt, grow, and evolve. Seek out opportunities that will aid your process and progress.
Take personal responsibility.
Resilient people know that it’s not anyone’s responsibility to take care of them. Not their company, clients, or donors. God ultimately provides the provision and chooses how He provides. However, it’s hard to receive when you are blocking access by way of idleness or laziness. Take responsibility and do your due diligence. One of the best ways to take charge of your career is by building a personal brand. Building a personal brand allows you to package and sell your purpose, gifts, strengths, and experience by positioning yourself as the valuable asset you are. Ask yourself how you can take personal responsibility and show companies or potential clients your worth. This way you are not only positioned but prepared to receive provision when it comes.
Continuously nurture your network.
We all know one person who only reaches out when they need something. Don’t be that person. Relationship building (i.e. networking) is all about give and take. In his book Give and Take, organizational psychologist Adam Grant found that givers (those who are giving of their time, money, resources) are more likely to be successful in life and work, largely because they’ve formed deep relationships that offer that same reciprocation. Continuously nurturing your network allows you to proactively cultivate your relationships and open yourself up to opportunities by giving versus reactively draining your relationships and sabotaging your opportunities by constantly taking. The later reflects the traditional approach toward networking. Instead of subscribing to this ineffective, antiquated approach, consider fresh and mutually beneficial ways you can actively cultivate and nurture your network.
Just because this season may have posed some challenges for your career or work doesn’t mean that your career has to take a backseat. Adopt a growth mindset by choosing to see these challenges as opportunities for growth. Go back to your life and career vision and set new goals that align with this season. Pursue purpose and professional development opportunities that will enable your growth. Remember, while you may not be able to control your circumstances, you are personally responsible for your decisions and actions moving forward. Don’t be afraid to lean into your network for support, and don’t forget to offer yourself as a resource as well. It is this resilience that will enable you to preserve and push through to the next phase of your life and career.
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