3 Steps To Making Holistic Career Change Decisions

When a bank decides to enter a new market segment or launch a major new product, the main driver behind those decisions will often be the sales or product teams.

But the decision to enter those markets will usually be a collective decision made in conjunction with financial control, legal, compliance, IT and possibly HR too. That’s how successful businesses work. You can’t have sales teams making all the decisions in the same way you can't financial control or the legal team make all decisions.

For the overall health of the business, the bank needs to make a holistic decision that achieves a balance between the need for growth and market share, but also ensures that its risk profile, cash flow needs and resourcing needs are not compromised – no matter how great an opportunity the sales team may have identified. (Well, that’s what should have been happening the last few years – but obviously hasn’t!).

If it compromises the overall health of the business, it may not be the right move at that moment in time: a decision which the CEO would ultimately take.

There are some key lessons you can learn here in the way you make career change decisions:

1. Think like a CEO

You are the CEO of You Plc or You Inc. Which means you need to make a career choice that feels right from a career point of view, but is also a balanced decision based on what is happening in your life elsewhere.

When you make a career decision, the impact of that decision affects the different elements of your life – your finances, your family, friends, maybe your health, your passions and interests away from work, your religious and spiritual side, to name a few.

So you must consider the impact of your career decision on those areas and make a holistic career choice in the same way that organisations need to make holistic business decisions. There is no single way to do this – it depends on your personal situation.

2. Decide on your priorities

So the best thing to do is to look at yourself like a CEO would look at a business and see how you are doing in the different parts of your life (family, friends, health, finances, interests and hobbies, spiritual/religious and community) and then ask what your priorities are for the next 2 years for the different areas

E.g. are you planning to get married? Start a family? Move house? What is the state of your finances and what are your financial priorities for the next 2 years? Have you a particular passion or hobby that is very important to you? Are you actively involved in the community or have a strong religious/spiritual side to you?

Then decide which areas of your life are the most important to you for the next 2-3 years.

3. Make an imperfect choice

There is no such thing as a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ career choice. 

You make the best decision based on the knowledge, information and skills you have at any given time. You make mistakes and then learn from them. Which in turn help you make better decisions and choices in the future. Whereas sitting around waiting to make the 'perfect decision' gets you pretty much nowhere.

But once you can answer the questions in point 2, it makes the decision-making process much easier.

Regardless of your view on the financial crises, it’s clear that large sections of the banking community were not making holistic decisions in recent years. An oversight which many of the banks, their shareholders and employees have paid dearly paid for.

It’s wise to remember, that running a business is not just about making as much money as you can without considering the impact of risk exposure and brand exposure.

In the same vain, it’s also wise to remember that managing your career is not just about making career decisons. It’s about thinking like the CEO of You Inc and making balanced, holistic decisions that are right for your overall success as an individual -not just your career.

By Sital Ruparelia, cross posted on the 6 Figure Career Management Blog

Comments

[Cherie]

Great advice, and boy do I wish I had read this when I was in my 20s! I like the part about priorities, especially. When I was younger, I would do against my instincts when it came to accepting a new job. I'd go for the job that I "should" go after instead of the one I really wanted. If I had paid attention to the power of small, I would have listened to my own instincts and gone after the job that felt right. It took my until I was in my late 30s to do that.

[kim-free post resume]

I like your thoughts and insights.I definitely agree when you said that there is no such thing as a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ career choice.

[Sharon Wilson]

Great post. I would also add writing down your goals and looking at them every now and then. This can help you boost self esteem when your close to them, or give you that motivational push if you've been side tracked.

[Sital]

Cherie, Kim, Sharon - thanks for the comments

@Cherie yes, learning to listen to your instincts is the key. but not always easy to do when there is lots of 'noise' from yourself and others

[Jeff Paul Big League Players Club]

I’ve been reading your post and found it interesting! Internet Marketing these days is spread almost everywhere in the IT world. I run a blog on Internet Marketing so I can use something from your blog as well.

[SARAHxj27]

The students should buy essay and the term papers just about this topic. A kind of supreme article! Thanks a lot!

[lowest-rate-loans.com]

I guess that to get the http://www.lowest-rate-loans.com from banks you should present a great reason. Nevertheless, once I've got a student loan, because I wanted to buy a bike.

[Online Dissertation]

Career choosing is one of the most complicated processes. It is necessary to make holistic career decision by keeping your friends, family and overall environment in your mind. The priorities plays major role in selecting best career for you. Make a list of your priorities so that you can make the best decision.

[Air Jordan Flight 9]

really interesting points. I'm a business writer and the rationale is the same in writing for keeping it clear, simple & concise. If you confuse your reader or presentation audience with too many words, concepts or angles, you create the same effect as the amateur photographer using an over-stuffed composition - confusion and ultimate loss of interest. so now link my name to see my website.

[chanel replica watches]

For character and confidence and happiness of heart.

[UGG Shoes]

i love you post

[Canada Goose]

Prefer Canada Goose Jackets in Canada Goose Jacket online store, more experience for winter life ! With winter coming, the Goose Down Jacket Canada and Women Canada Goose Chiliwack Parka BLACK with authentic quality will be the best choice for you.
Winter coming, everyone is starting to shop around for a warm winter coat. But the big question is: which one will keep you the warmest without making you look like an abominable snowman? Today´s article highlights for you two coats that meet these important criteria: Canada Goose Men's Yorkville Bomber and Canada Goose Outlet Trillium by Canadian Goose.
From Canada Goose Sale, Canada Goose Parka inspired by the label´s iconic Canada Goose Women Expedition design. It´s fitted with plenty of internal and external pockets as well as a versatile removable down filled hood, secure Velcro collar and storm flap protection over the front zipper. The cut is a bit slimmer than we´re used to seeing on vests and outerwear pieces alike, which definitely works in your favor when traveling from work to play and vice versa.

[Belstaff Jackets]

Belstaff Leather is not only the motorcycle jacket, but also known as the stars jacket, we could see more famous stars wore them in the movies as well as other casual occasions. The Belstaff Outlet was designed with three separate components to allow the two adventurers to face all conditions they would be likely to experience on their journey. Back in the history of Belstaff UK, in 1924, Harry Grasberg and his father in law, Eli Belo itch, pooled their talents to produce, a cozy collection of waterproofs that all the foggy Albion inhabitances needed. Belstaff Clothing sturdily constructed and cleverly designed to combat the worst of the British weather, these prototypes of today’s wide range fashion collection soon caught the popular imagination.