You know I was thinking, we put a lot of time into looking ahead and projecting, preparing, and preventing when it comes to our health, but when it comes to our career, we tend to take a more “in the moment” approach.
I’m continuously made aware how the most successful executives handle their career like they do their health.
They have a primary care provider who they seem once a year for an annual check up to assess the health of their “system.” Additionally, they visit their PCP whenever they are feeling signs that things aren’t functioning as desired.
But when it comes to careers so many executives ignore the signs and forego any meaningful guidance.
Ronald, a highly successful senior financial executive whom we’ve worked with for many years, recently told his ExecuNet Career Coach that he wanted to make an appointment with her to “just get a checkup on his current value story and networking strategies so that he stays positioned any opportunities that may be out there.”
Now that’s how to be safe and career healthy!
He learned this maneuver the hard way, but he learned. Many years ago, Ronald was completely stunned by a layoff and at the time called it “a career heart attack.” He’s maintained a relationship with his coach ever since, calling her his “career cardiologist” and routinely meeting with her, first by phone and now through Zoom, for career checkups and to update his resume with his latest accomplishments, and his ValuGraphic as well.
Being prepared like this allowed Ronald to move to a fantastic opportunity about six years ago when a casual conversation turned into a discussion of what he could do for someone’s company. He had his value story ready and seamlessly worked it into the conversation. His resume was fully updated and ready for use, and Ronald shared it the next morning for his new contact to pass on for discussion with the stakeholders in the company. A short time later, he was in his new position.
That’s what we call “always be ready” done to perfection!
Now, he’s sensing some changes within the company that may mean it’s time for him to be elsewhere. He’s checking in, again, as he’s done a couple times since his last move, to get his value story sharpened and his resume and ValuGrapic updated.
Ronald knows it’s important to take care of his career the same way he takes care of his health, with regular check ups by a trusted professional in the career health industry. He referred to himself as “pretty damn good with numbers and leadership but a neophyte in career stuff.”
And that’s okay. He’s not a careers professional. He spends his days doing the math and leading teams. He relies on someone who spends her days managing careers to help him manage his own.
Just like he does with his health.
If you’d like a career checkup, we can help with that.
