The steps to change
Almost all of my coaching clients have engaged with me because they are experiencing change.
In that never-ending quest to find my coaching “niche” I’m beginning to see that I’m a guide and support for people going through change.
But then I wonder – isn’t all coaching about change?
Even with clients who don’t seek out coaching themselves but are told they’re getting a coach, there’s still an element of change. The client may not understand that change is required, but their boss or their company is providing them with a coach in the hope that they will change.
Lots of times my clients tell me that they want to make a change, but they don’t know where to start or what to do. There’s a pain point or an area of tension, and they hope that making a change will ease that discomfort.
Of course, change itself brings discomfort, but sometimes it feels better to take action than to stay in the same place.
One of the big questions people often have is around changing their job. Should they look for a new job, or stay with what’s familiar, even if it’s not a good situation? In this case it helps to explore the situation and figure out what might make it better.
Step 1 - Dive Deep: Identify the pain or tension that you want the change to relieve, and examine it closely. Understand exactly what’s happening and what would make it better.
If you determine that yes, a whole new job is the best way to ease this “pain”, you know that you’re facing a big change. It helps to keep a vision in mind of how it will feel to have a new role.
Know Your Why: If you didn’t have this pain, what would be different? That’s your why – your motivation for change.
OK, so you’re motivated to change jobs. How do you find a new one? There are lots of steps to take in job searching, and it helps to map them out before you decide the best way forward.
Make A List: Brainstorm all the possible solutions to this discomfort. Don’t hold back – generating ideas gets the energy flowing.
Pick A Path: What is the best direction to take? In this case, “best” means the most possible AND most effective.
Once you’ve decided which path you’re going to take to find a new job, you need to make a plan. You’ll need to update your resume, start applying for jobs, maybe brush up on your interview skills. It can feel like a lot.
Make A Plan: Map out what it would take to put this solution in place. Break it into small tasks so that it doesn’t feel so overwhelming.
If your first step is updating your resume, then the smallest possible step might be to review your resume and see how much work is needed.
Take Action: Set yourself a timeline, and start with the smallest possible step toward easing your pain. Do it as soon as you can.
Once you decide what you’re going to do, don’t procrastinate. Getting started is the hardest part.
Keep Going! Keep up the momentum by revisiting your WHY: in this case, what will be different when you don’t have this pain. Give yourself credit for every step you take that moves you forward.
In this case, your job search is a project. Take stock regularly and pat yourself on the back for doing the work to move yourself from a situation that’s causing you pain to a better role.
Change is hard, but it’s necessary in order to keep growing in this life. You can make it easier on yourself by making a plan.
“Look back only to see how far you’ve come.”