DEC 2023

Introduction

I believe, without a doubt, that everyone has an ideal job. I also believe that we can all find that job in the ideal organisation to meet our needs at a point in time.

So many people take the first job that is offered to them. They take it with gratitude and then take it a bit more, and a bit more until it hurts – hurst their identity and their soul purpose. They take it even when it is doing nothing for them anymore. Our justifications come through as vague comments of loyalty and comments about the regular pay check, the friends I will miss. Often a subset of those so-called friends are the ones that are making your day a misery.

Loyalty and complacency are weird things. As a society we are more open to leave our wives, husbands, partners and families than some employers. And leaving some employers can get messier than the worst divorce (yes, personal experience).

We often get ourselves into an unbalanced relationship with our organisations where we forgive their short-comings even though we can clearly see:

• we are overlooked
• benefits are being cuts
• we are no longer on their radar
• promises are repeatedly not delivered
• profit is more important than culture and staff needs
• the organisation is not growing at the same rate as ourselves
• our friends are leaving in a state of anger, rather than joy at new career growth or regret in having to make a career jump
• pay rises are slowing and no longer in line with changes in economy
• requests for more time and deliverable sacrifices are being made out of hours for little or no compensation
• and so many more….

Here’s the deal

Organisations are not people, but they do have a personality and they do evolve and grow like people. Organisations have a presence – maybe not like a human spirit but they have their own energetic you can feel and work with.

If you no longer recognise the personality of the organisation you are working for or can no longer feel it, you need to ask yourself:

• Do I need to admit that my needs are changing?
• Do you need to ‘fess up to yourself that holding out for an exit package is killing you slowly on the inside
• Do I acknowledge the organisation has changed and is no longer aligned to my direction or core beliefs?
• Has there been the dreaded change in management and you cannot respect the person now in authority?
• Can you feel a sense of impending collapse, takeover or unhealthy merger in the air?

The company might be changing, but usually you, as an individual you will likely evolve far faster than the large conglomerates and departments in which we work.

It is not wrong to feel sad when we are no longer in step with the organisations we work for. It is not wrong to feel disloyal to them when we hear our minds calling on us to leave.

It is wrong not to feel the discomfort, heed the warning bells and honour your inner call to move on.

I also believe:

• Your relationship with your employer is not static
• Your relationship with your employer does not last forever
• You should never forgive an organisation for having an unforgiving culture
• You should not believe you can survive through reaction and inaction and still be rewarded with a healthy career
• You should never ignore your feelings with an organisation that has beliefs that are out of step with your own
• You need to stay aware of when your performance is totally compromised by your negative feelings about your role in the organisation and by the reputation and culture of the organisation itself.

Being the best you can be

As you work with us we want you to find multiple ways to be the best that you can be.

Some of you might think you are already doing your best but if you really don’t consciously acknowledge who the Working You truly is, that best will always be a missed opportunity at greatness.

Conscious career managemeent is a daily act of love and care for you and your self-worth. Your work defines so many of the myths and identity issues in our lives. Conscious career management helps you put the right work face forward everyday with the same care you took in choosing your outfit and accessories.