The world we work in is changing. How we work is changing. To stay in the game, not even ahead of the game, it’s important to be alert to these changes and what it means for you.
There’s choice and decisions to be made about how to best position yourself and your career to thrive in the age of robots, automation and artificial intelligence.
It starts with understanding your appetite for career risk.
When was the last time you made a career decision that made you nervous or slightly uncomfortable?
It can be easy to stay safe and take the well-trodden path. However, to be the leader of your career you have to be prepared to take risks.
Playing safe can lead to career stagnation, stalling, or worse cause your career to go backwards.
It was T.S. Elliott who said: “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go”.
Some people embrace career change readily. They have a high risk appetite for new things, and pushing the boundaries. They are comfortable challenging themselves to do new things as it keeps them stimulated, creating a sense of purpose and achievement.
At the other extreme, there are people who avidly avoid career change. They find comfort knowing what they know and don’t want to expand their horizons or push the boundaries. However, by trying to avoid change they often avoid learning and personal growth, even to their own detriment.
The majority of us are somewhere in the middle of those two ends of the spectrum. As well, how we feel about career change doesn’t remain static. In some situations we may find it easier than in other situations.
The reality is we are all going to need to get more comfortable with career change and career reinvention.
A key part of this is elevating your awareness of what is happening around you, in terms of how your role, profession, industry and sector is changing. The majority of the workforce will be impacted in some way.
Awareness is about raising your consciousness. The more conscious you are of what is going on around you, the more you are able to be open, and over time, accepting of it so you can plan ahead and take action.
Ignoring the change isn’t going to make it go away. When you’re alert, present and open to the changes you can then take the necessary steps to put yourself in the best possible position to thrive through the change.
Change happens. Make it work for you.
Michelle Gibbings is a change leadership and career expert and founder of Change Meridian. Michelle works with global leaders and teams to help them accelerate progress. She is the Author of ‘Step Up: How to Build Your Influence at Work’. For more information: www.michellegibbings.com or contact michelle@michellegibbings.com.