I help mid-career leaders break through frustration and stuckness by taking control of their career.
Was socrates a career coach?
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The ancient Greeks took their personal development very seriously. From the moment Socrates lifted the ancient wisdom 'Know thyself' from a doorway in Delphi, and presented it at the inaugural Athens Ted IV, it was clear he was on to something. And his teaching still rings true today. Because how can we possibly create meaningful career momentum if we don't know the first thing about what we're trying to move forward, by which I mean ourselves? Being stuck, feeling frustrated and unable to take the next step might be because you're unsure of which road to travel. And a lack of knowledge of options is certainly one of the multitude of reasons we can feel stagnant at the mid-career point. But let's not overlook what can happen if the needle on your self-knowledge dial is low. In fact, as this is a positive environment, let's focus on what happens when you dial it up to 10! Picture this. You know you've lost your oomph in your current role but you can't quite seem to get to the next phase of your career, be it because the most obvious move is unappealing or out of reach for now and that's about the extent of the options you can see. Imagine you start to delve deep into who you really are. What makes you tick? What lights you up? What were you doing at work last time you enjoyed yourself? And yes, for those with a Calvinistic upbringing, you are allowed to enjoy yourself at work. What do you care about in this world? What ignites emotion or passion in you? Where's that coming from? What are your needs, your wants, your have-to-haves for happiness? What are your skills and strengths? What are you brilliant at? Be honest. It's just you chatting to yourself.Let's get it all out on the table (or in your journal!). β β π You recognise patterns in your career history - those moments when you thrived weren't accidents, they shared common elements you can now intentionally seek out. π Your conversations shift from "I need a new job" to "I need work that involves these specific elements" - suddenly your job search becomes focused and effective. π Decision-making becomes clearer because you're measuring opportunities against your own yardstick, not someone else's definition of success. π You stop apologising for the things you're not (detail-oriented, outgoing, naturally organised) and start leveraging what you naturally are. π Energy returns because you're no longer forcing yourself into shapes that don't fit you. π That inner critic that's been your constant companion starts to get back in its box when faced with actual evidence of your capabilities. π You notice which tasks drain you and which energise you, allowing you to seek out or create opportunities for maximising energy-creating work. π Feedback becomes useful data rather than personal attacks because you have the context to evaluate it properly. π A new world of options starts to open when you realise that your wealth of knowledge and skills is transferable to different roles. And I only stopped this list because it's getting long and it's Sunday and I want to leave you with some time to reflect on this. So if you're spinning your wheels, wondering what action you could take to move towards your next role (even if you don't know what that is right now), work on uncovering all the reasons why whichever hiring manager you next set your sights on will be chomping at the bit to get you on their team. Go deep into knowing what type of work will sustain you where you are now and give you a guiding light about where to go next. And above all else, know that this self-knowledge isn't whimsical self-indulgence - it's some of the most practical career development work you can do. See you soon, Sarah _____________________________________________________ Reader, if this got you thinking - whether about how to succeed in your own career or how to support others doing the same - I'd love to stay in touch. Iβm quietly building something new for mid-career professionals who want more clarity, confidence, and momentum. I'll have 12 seats up for grabs for the first cohort in the Autumn. If youβd like to be part of the early access group (or have someone on your team who'd benefit), you can pop your name down here to be the first to find out when I launch: π Join the Early Access Listβ And if you're in a role where you support the development of others, youβre always welcome to reach out for a conversation β whether itβs coaching, tools for your managers, or something more bespoke. _____________________________________________________ β |
Sarah Rourke Coaching
I help mid-career leaders break through frustration and stuckness by taking control of their career.
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