We make thousands of decisions every day. We choose the snooze button over waking up, taking the highway or the seaside road, starting with emails or jumping into tasks, and the list goes on. These happen in a split second. When it comes to more serious choices, the situation becomes both complex and complicated. In this piece, let’s explore how to make tough career choices.
I always took the biggest decisions intuitively. I listened to what I truly wanted and went for it. This sometimes meant giving up a promotion for a lateral move. My bold choices were either frowned upon by people who disagreed with my thinking process or applauded by others who appreciated my courage. These extremes would generate feelings of anxiety and fear which would drive me to seek validation every now and then, making sure I wasn’t being impulsive and irrational. Little did I know that this intuition is based on unconscious thoughts that lingered in my mind and brought me to this point. Therefore, I was curious to uncover the decision-making process happening beneath the surface.
First, why is making tough career choices so difficult?
Having choices gives us a sense of freedom. Opting for one may burden us and make us feel paralyzed. Why?
Long term impact of the decision
When hesitating between sushi and Chinese for dinner, the impact of your choice lasts a few hours only. The next day, you get a do-over. What a relief! Career choices, on the other hand, may influence your life for a longer period. So, this creates more pressure and may leave you even more indecisive.
Social factors
Fortunately, or not, we don’t live in isolation. Every possibility influences our lives and that of those around us. So, when going for that job overseas, quitting to start your own business or accepting that promotion that requires longer working hours, it’s perfectly natural to consider how this affects your partner, family, or friends.
Some of us may also seek validation from others. When adding how others will perceive it, this makes the decision more complicated.
Loss aversion
With every choice we make, we win some and lose some. The idea of losing something has a significant emotional impact that we seldom try to avoid. The fear of missing out makes the decision even more difficult.
Fear of making a mistake
We often attempt to make the “right” decision. I have been the victim of this countless times. The pressure of wanting to get it absolutely right and avoiding any mistake may prevent us from moving forward with any decision at all. There is no “right” career path. It’s not even linear. Sometimes, you see highly successful people moving in a different directions, exploring, learning, and then going back to where they previously were.
Mistakes are ok. Stagnating to avoid them is not.
Ok. What should you ask yourself when making a tough career choice?
1. What is my life’s purpose?
Knowing it will guide every decision you make. I once had a manager whose purpose was to set the right example for her daughter. She wanted to show her that the sky is the limit to her growth. Hence, she always strived to achieve as much and reach as far as possible so that her little one would be inspired. She would take on the necessary roles that would drive her higher up the corporate ladder.
2. What are my personal values?
We feel at our best when we make decisions that align with our values. This maximizes our fulfillment and wellbeing. In contrast, those that conflict with our values may bring discontent and dissatisfaction. Therefore, it is crucial to identify your core 5 values and evaluate how your options align or conflict with them. This helps you pick what fits you most.
3. What motivates me?
Some professionals are excited with high paying jobs, driving them to take over as many leadership positions as they can. Others look for adding skills to their career portfolio and creating an interesting narrative (guilty as charged). For some, corporate life is only a short-lived experience after which they would venture into their own business. Your motivation in your career can give you clarity regarding which direction to take.
4. What are my priorities?
There’s always a trade-off. Only you can identify what you are willing to let go of. Do you want to move abroad and are willing to grab any role that will take you there? Are you looking for a chill job that allows you more time to spend with your family? Do you just want to increase your paycheck and retire as early as possible and enjoy life? Prioritizing your life’s buckets can help you select what’s best for you.
5. What kind of life do I want to lead?
I have a friend who was in consulting. Sandy loved the job until she lost herself. She was constantly burnt out, couldn’t maintain her friendships or any relationship and struggled with her health. She even lost her sense of humor.
Every type of work leads to a certain lifestyle. That is a good starting point when considering your options.
6. Do I really understand my choices?
You may be inclined to rush through the decision to alleviate the burden; however, it’s preferable to take the time to explore the opportunities in depth. You should understand what each pathway entails, the prospects for the future, the skills you might unlock and the type of individuals you will work with. I must warn you that excessive analysis might overwhelm and paralyze you. So, be careful not to fall into the trap!
7. What does my gut feeling tell me?
Bruce Henderson, the founder of the Boston Consulting Group, called intuition “the subconscious integration of all the experiences, conditioning, and knowledge of a lifetime, including the cultural and emotional biases of that lifetime.”
Our brain can identify patterns. It can match or mismatch past and present experiences. In fact, our subconscious mind continuously processes information. And that inner voice comes out when we become aware of what has been lingering beneath the surface. There is no doubt that experience strengthens our gut feeling. And if we learn how to listen to it, we can greatly benefit from it in our decision-making process.
But… What if u go wrong?
The idea that opportunities come only once is a myth. The truth is, opportunities always show up and u can find them if you are being active and intentional. As long as you have the stamina to keep seeking opportunities and the consistency to maintain high performance, they will always make it your way.