If you are considering, making a switch to a new career, reinventing yourself or finding even more fulfillment in your life, but you aren’t sure how, you are in the right place.
Maybe you are working in the health or not for profit sector and you are wondering about your next chapter – you know that you are ready for a change but perhaps aren’t clear on what that next step is.
Today, I would like to share with you 3 tips to help you decide if now is the time to move forward in these times.
If you would like some support in defining your next chapter and mapping out a life of joy, fulfilment and connection, direct message me and book a discovery call.
Female senior women leaders are the key to us weathering this storm. The decisions they are making now, are going to significantly impact not just their life, but their families and, our communities for years to come. When women feel full of energy and excited about what they do everyday, they bring that passion, excitement and energy home to their family, children, staff and communities and the ripple effect is massive. This is exactly what we need right now.
People are saying there are no playbooks for this, and perhaps you feel like now is the time to hunker down and stay the course. I want to share with you 3 reasons to do the opposite.
1. You know deep down inside you – you are ready, you know you are ready. In fact, we can always find excuses not to make a change. So I challenge you to search for the opposite– why is now the time? Perhaps because you know you are ready. In your heart of hearts you know that where you are now is not where you want to be. You have lost the energy you once had and you no longer leap out of bed in the morning. You miss that patter of your heart. So, if you admit you know it is time to move forward - it is. It is too easy to stay where you are and then you will look back and wonder how your life went by and you never did that thing you always wanted to do.
2. Women tend to wait too long – we tend to wait until we have all the information or until we meet 100% of the job requirements before we apply for a new role. Yet research shows that Men are happy to apply when they meet only 60% of the requirements. So, take a risk and apply for that job you have been dreaming of or move forward before you are ready. No one ever feels ready – let’s face it – making changes is hard. If you are waiting for the perfect conditions, and absolute clarity you are waiting too long. If you think about your next chapter as running a race, you need to start by taking a step not by running the marathon. Just get going.
3. Disruption creates opportunity – it might be a job loss or a regoranization at work. It might be a change in the external enviornment like the pandemic we are going through now. All these disruptions present us with opportunities we would not otherwise have. It might mean you have time for self-relfection that you otherwise would not have, or it may mean that promotion you were hoping for has been cancelled. The rate of disruption in the world is increasing – technological, political, social – disruption is everywhere. Those that are able to weather the storms and move forward despite the fear and loneliness are those poised for even greater things.
So you can always come up with reasons to not move forward, and yet I just shared with you three really compelling ones to take the leap and move forward right now. On your deathbed you won't regret the risks you took, you will regret leaving that song unsung inside you. You will regret not trying that thing you have always dreamed of. You will regret waiting so long and possibly missing out on that opportunity.
Many women are not clear on how to move forward and get clear on their next step and so if you appreciate these tips and would like to learn more about how I can support you in getting clarity and support on your next move, please direct message me and we can set up a time to talk.
In the meantime, I want to thank you for being here today. I am a passionate supporter of women and I want you to know I am here for you. Have a great day, and stay safe.
Laura Macdougall is a leading authority for senior women leaders in the non-profit and healthcare sectors who are designing their next chapters in life, work and legacy. Direct message her for more information on her coaching or speaking packages.