{"id":76558,"date":"2025-04-15T00:08:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T04:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=76558"},"modified":"2025-04-15T00:08:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T04:08:14","slug":"and-you-are-you-the-owner-of-your-professional-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/and-you-are-you-the-owner-of-your-professional-career\/","title":{"rendered":"And you, are you the owner of your professional career?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Professional frustration has become palpable and widespread across all organizations, sectors, geographic regions, and demographic groups. People are dissatisfied with their careers, and only 20 to 30% of employees\u00a0<\/span>feel engaged in their work<\/span><\/a>\u00a0.<\/span><\/p>\n

Studies on burnout and job turnover, along with surveys such as\u00a0Deloitte’s\u00a0<\/span>Millennial Survey , reveal that many workers seek meaningful roles but struggle to find them.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Beyond dissatisfaction, many are confused by the abundance of often contradictory career advice. Experts urge professionals to be authentic ones, then advise them to create specific work identities to manage office politics.<\/span><\/p>\n

Professional career and work reality<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The professional agreement \u2013 \u200b\u200bthe tacit agreement between employers and employees \u2013 is changing, driven by three metatrends:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. A few decades ago, organizations began promoting the idea of \u200b\u200bemployees\u00a0<\/span>owning their careers<\/span><\/em>\u00a0. This shift toward career self-management ended up being, in part, a way to reduce job security and traditional career progression. Unfortunately, professionals weren’t truly taught how to\u00a0<\/span>own<\/span><\/em>\u00a0a career. So, it’s no wonder many employees feel frustrated and skeptical. And this is only going to increase in the world of AI.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The very nature of work is constantly evolving. Models such as outsourcing, the sharing economy, and freelancing, to name a few, offer opportunities for flexibility and autonomy but are unstable and uncertain<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. The new work reality requires a new mindset. Having a tailored career means making strategic decisions, being able to quickly learn new skills, and being open to opportunities and change. This depends on each individual’s ability to adapt and embark on their personal professional journey.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Navigating this work environment can be daunting, especially without realistic guidance on how to succeed, despite the variety of self-help literature (much of which is anecdotal and offers incomplete advice or simply perpetuates false traditions about career advancement).<\/span><\/p>\n

    Many employees now understand the reality that professional outcomes are not inherently fair, and that good things\u2014at least in the modern world of work\u2014don’t always come to those who work hard and wait. But it doesn’t have to be that way.<\/span><\/p>\n

    To improve your professional career<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    The topic of career management and development is increasing, and will continue to increase, its presence on organizations’ agendas. In an article published in early 2022, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky\u00a0<\/span>noted<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that improving talent retention through career development is a strategy to address:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The looming skills shortage in fields created by new technologies.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. The challenge of retraining and reorienting millions of workers whose jobs could be jeopardized by technological change.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      We have developed a model based on four cornerstones that encompass the different actions that can be taken\u00a0<\/span>to improve one’s career<\/span><\/a>\u00a0.<\/span><\/p>\n

      These actions can influence the current situation (\u00a0<\/span>investing in today<\/span><\/em>\u00a0) or future options (\u00a0<\/span>imagining tomorrow<\/span><\/em>\u00a0). The other dimension is whether the action is largely under one’s own control (internal) or requires interaction with others (external). At the intersection of both axes are the cornerstones of success (career visionary, value creator, brand builder, opportunity seeker), which are also closely intertwined.<\/span><\/p>\n

      For example, without a clear personal definition of professional success, you can’t choose the right path; without doing great work, you can’t build a sustainable personal brand; without a strong and diverse network, you can’t easily expand your options, and so on.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Planning and commitment<\/strong><\/h4>\n

      To benefit from career advice and insights, you need to actively engage with them and put them into practice. For example, an important step is to plan a career path and consider alternative routes that career could take.<\/span><\/p>\n

      A common challenge in this process is finding compromises. Consider examining your personal limitations (e.g., education, your spouse’s career, caregiving responsibilities) both now and in the future. This long-term play exercise can clarify\u00a0<\/span>when to accelerate or decelerate<\/span><\/a>\u00a0your career.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Many find that organizing their normally scattered professional thoughts can align them into an orderly structure, from which new options, next steps, and opportunities often emerge. Armed with these insights, you can set clear career goals and identify the essential behaviors for professional success that you are lacking. This will allow you to develop simple, specific actions to achieve your goals.<\/span><\/p>\n

      For example, if you want a promotion but don’t have the support of senior management, you can strengthen your network and amplify your personal brand. If your goal is to work fewer hours while maintaining the same income, you could explore ways to increase your options and enhance your value proposition to the company.<\/span><\/p>\n

      The moment of truth<\/strong><\/h4>\n

      In our work with professionals across various industries, we’ve observed several\u00a0<\/span>moments of truth<\/span><\/em>\u00a0that often mark a turning point in people’s careers. The most impactful of these\u00a0<\/span>aha<\/span><\/em>\u00a0moments is when professionals realize that:<\/span><\/p>\n