Guest Post: Scott Woodard (One Book)
Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One, by Jenny Blake (Amazon link)
Because careers are no longer straightforward, linear, and predictable; pivoting within our roles and throughout our careers is the new normal. Careers have become “more modular, customizable and dynamic;” employee tenure is about four-to-five years, and job roles often change dramatically within that tenure. For these reasons, we need to develop a “pivot mindset.”
A pivot mindset emphasizes natural shifts within our current role and from one position to the next while remaining open to a wide variety of options. It’s about building a portfolio of skills, experiences, and contacts, and adapting to new tools and tactics. In other words, we can no longer settle for a career of just phoning it in.
Career pivots can stretch us to our maximum capacity, but don’t have to be debilitating. To guide us, Blake offers a methodology or cycle that incorporates a four-stage process:
Plant: Starting from a strong base of who you already are and what is already working.
Scan: Researching new and related skills and mapping potential opportunities.
Pilot: Small, low-risk experiments to test the new direction.
Launch: Pulling the trigger on the bigger decisions that require commitment even in the face of uncertainty.
The Pivot Cycle is not a “one and done” effort, nor is it Plan B. It’s a continuous process of doubling down on what already works to make a purposeful shift in a new, related direction. And each pivot informs our next career move.
PS– If you’re getting value this post and you think that others would as well, please feel free to share them with your friends and colleagues. They can sign up to receive them by clicking here.
Interested in taking one of Scott’s courses through CFTEA? Request to join our next session of the Leadership Narrative Certificate.