Tuesday 21 January 2020

A New Decade, A New Year And A New Plan?

Happy New Year! Here’s hoping that a new year and a new decade will bring you everything you wish for in your career.......... isn’t that what everyone says?? Or at least hopes and thinks??? And yet - it doesn’t necessarily always work out that way.

A new month, a new year, and a new decade always bring with them a tantalising combination of excitement at the possibilities which lie ahead, and reflection on achievements and failures of the recent past. One of the most consistent themes to my coaching with successful leaders relates to the dynamic of managing time, being effective and being satisfied in our role at work, and it strikes me that a new year, as well as a new decade represents a natural moment to pause and take stock.

I have written extensively about the concept of ‘Executive Presence’ and one of the compelling facets of leaders who exude this is what I call ‘being on your purpose’. The most successful - as well as the most satisfied - leaders are clear sighted about what they are good at, stay very attuned to what drives them, love what they do with a passion and have found a way to get well paid for it.

And this reality isn’t down to luck or good fortune. It’s down to good planning, followed by a relentless focus on execution.

As I write this post, I have just returned from a new year break where my husband and I always conduct something which we have labelled a ‘Brummitt Summit’. We sit down and talk about our goals, priorities and aspirations across all areas of our life - not just our careers. We write them down and then work through them throughout the following year. We take a break from work and the demands of everyday life to really stop, think, discuss and plan. After all - it’s only our lives we’re talking about.

I encourage my clients to do the same - and most often the place our coaching starts relates to our role and our careers. It’s essential to make it an enjoyable experience (e.g. go for lunch, visit somewhere that inspires you, walk your dog etc.), and not a conversation you try to have between dealing with screaming children, a broken washing machine or feeding the cats. Our focus might need to be on finding a new role, or getting better or getting more balance in our current one. It might be on achieving more qualifications, or more money, or finding ways to spend more time with our children, or get more peace and quiet, or more fun, or more joy....or more of something else in what we do for a living.

Whatever we want, it needs a plan in order to get there. It’s a new decade and a new year and I wish all of you the very best for it.

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