I was reading an article online the other day that asked the question, “If you could find job security in today’s work environment, or even change your career to do something that you’d really enjoy, how far would you go to make it happen?” Most people’s first response to that would be, “I’d do almost anything.” Well, the good news is, you only have to do one thing: stop assuming.
Often, we make assumptions because we don’t know any better. When we’re missing information, we fill in the blanks with our imagination. We make up stuff without having real evidence that it’s true. Read on…
For example, many clients say, “I sent my resume and I didn’t hear back. They probably think ________.” [FILL IN the blank.]
So, one question I ask my clients, almost on a daily basis, is: What evidence do you have that this is true? At that point, their perspective shifts and their assumption isn’t quite validated. I take a moment, and then depending on the assumption, I might ask one of the following questions:
Did you follow up, get a specific response, feedback, or talk to someone?
Here are some practical ways to come out of assumption and into fact-based decision-making:
Do your research! It’s silly to assume that the job market stinks just because the news anchors say so. Look at the data for your field, geographical location, and salary range. Are your prospects really as bleak as your assumptions indicated? Chances are, they’re not.
Go through your past experiences, and make note of the projects that you enjoyed the most. Write out a list of keywords that describe those projects and the results of those projects. Then, type those keywords into LinkedIn and see who comes up. This is a great way to find someone who is in the role you’re looking to target or a contact you didn’t think to reach out to yet.
Start networking and speak face-to-face or over Zoom with one to three people in your industry who are doing what you want to do. Ask them the questions you formerly assumed about. Is it really harder to go from a Director role to the VP level? Will I really have to take a pay cut? How can I break into this field using my current skill set? Set your assumptions and apprehension aside for a few moments, and really listen to the answers.
Decide how far you’re willing to go to start your business, change your career, or get out of your unfulfilling job. Set your boundaries. Then, make a list of every action you can take within those boundaries to move yourself toward your goal.
Before I left my recruiting job to become a coach, I spent a lot of time debunking my own assumptions. I asked a lot of questions. I worked with a coach. I interviewed coaches. I researched the national and local coaching organizations. I looked at certification schools. Turns out, most of what I thought I knew about becoming a coach wasn’t accurate. Boy, was I glad I spent the time to prove myself wrong.
To this day, I still work with a coach. Sometimes, it’s hard to define where reality ends and assumption begins. My coach helps me with this, and she keeps me on track. While debunking your own myths is certainly a process you can undertake by yourself, it’s a lot quicker and easier to gain career clarity when you’re working with a coach. So give me a call, and wave goodbye to your assumptions!
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