"Different" Works In Your Career

Deborah Brown-Volkman,
Career & Mentor Coach

Are you doing the same things over and over again in your career yet expecting a different result?

There are times in our careers when what we want is not aligned with what we are getting. Maybe we want a harmonious work environment, and what we are getting is co-workers who drive us crazy. Maybe we want a new position, and what we are getting is rejection. Maybe we want a promotion or recognition for our efforts, and what we are getting is other people taking credit for our work.

But, instead of taking action to change our frustrating circumstances, we wait for the situation to improve on its own. And, while we are waiting, we keep repeating actions that are getting us nowhere.

So How Do You Begin A Different Cycle?

Follow These Steps Below:

1. Let Go Of Your Resistance

What you resist persists. You may not want to do something different, but goals in your career cannot be achieved without change. (And, going with the flow.) You have to stop saying no, so you can start saying yes.

Begin by recognizing what resistance is costing you. Are you tired at the end of each day? Do you think about your work constantly? Do you frequently feel that you could be doing more? Imagine if you could let your resistance go. Think about how you could better spend all of that extra time and energy.

2. Believe That "Different" Will Work

Your beliefs are powerful. They set the tone and direction for your career. If you say you want one thing, but believe another, your conflict will keep you from moving forward. Sometimes we think we are helping ourselves. If we expect less, then we will not be disappointed. And, hopefully what we want will magically appear. When you expect less, you get less. Expect more and you will get more. Believing is vital. If you do not believe that your career wishes will come true, then who will?

3. Try An Alternative Approach

If you want something different, you have to do something different. For example, if you interact with difficult co-workers in a certain way, try an alterative approach. Be nice to them and maybe they will be nice to you. If you want a promotion, are you the only one who knows it? Have a discussion with your boss so you are both on the same page. If you want a new position, is your resume and 30-second pitch ready to go? You can turn these things around by tackling your problem in a new way.

4. Be Nice To Yourself

What hurts you most in your career is not what's happening around you, but how you react to it. Your career runs in cycles; sometimes you are up, and sometimes you are down. How you internalize and process what's happening around you can either move you forward or hold you back.

How can you be nicer to yourself when your career is not running as perfectly as you'd like? You make a choice. You can tell yourself that everything will be ok, or you can let your negativity win. You can reward yourself for the milestones you are reaching, or get disappointed because the process is taking longer than you think it should. You can focus on what you haven't done up to this point (because you were not ready), or what you will do starting today. The choice is yours to make everyday.

5. Get Support

Progress requires different perspectives. Reach out and ask for help at those times in your career when it's needed. Asking for help takes courage. The strength to ask is within you. Let people in. Let them help you. Leave your skepticism behind. (It's getting in your way.) Go after what you want with the right people beside you.

So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!