In accounting, a reconciliation specialist ensures financials balance across internal and external records, i.e., between the corporation and banking institutions, and fix discrepancies.
Similarly, regularly reconciling your current work priorities and performance and assessing how well your expectations align with your manager and colleagues can help ensure your career goals are congruous.
Now is the time to assess and refresh.
Ask yourself core questions about how and what is important to you and compare that to your current situation, such as:
- How do I feel?
- How do I want to feel?
- What do I want?
- What do I need?
- What’s holding me back?
- What would help me move forward?
For example, I lived with a narrative fixated on what others expected of me for decades. My self-talk included thoughts like: “If I do everything everyone else wants first, then I’ll be left alone to do what I want.”
Through my inner work and human design studies, I’ve learned many alternative strategies, one being that I must ride through my emotional waves—the positive and negative, the highs and lows—before saying “Yes” and committing to others. By doing so, I’ve reshaped my focus and established healthy boundaries to make more effective decisions and reduce my sense of guilt and regret.
Also, throughout your career, you may be recognized and rewarded for activities that exhaust you. Turning inward can help you increase awareness of your requirements, recalibrate, and create a balance between your head, heart, and mind. As a result, you’ll strengthen your resolve and become more empowered and self-led, enabling you to be assertive and influence a change in direction.
There are numerous paths—Choose what’s right for you.
Your well-being is a necessity, not a luxury. You need to rest, rejuvenate, and concentrate on what you have agency over—YOU. You define what success looks like, so take accountability for your career with conviction and pursue multiple aspects with a clear and open mind.
To guide you, here are five ways to pragmatically reconcile your career:
#1 Revisit your career ambitions and values.
As you’re exposed to new opportunities and experiences, what you like and value can change. What was once most important to you may be replaced by something you deem more meaningful in the present moment. As your priorities shift, update your career goals to align accordingly. Additionally, evaluate overall fit. When considering taking on additional assignments or making a career change, take the time to reflect on the implications and determine what is or is not possible. Furthermore, setting a daily intention with a few dedicated tasks can help you stay on track.
#2 Identify what lights you up and what drains you.
Taking the Sparketype® assessment and participating in a Spark Canvas™ workshop is one way to identify what gives you the most—and least—job satisfaction across multiple metrics. You’ll walk away with a one-page decision aid showcasing what makes you feel most at ease and comfortable across several orientations, preferences, and values. Integrating these insights at your place of employment can inspire and engage you more purposefully.
#3 Update your career strategy.
Developing a strategy and plan is a great way to stay on top of your career ambitions. This organized, written document helps you visualize and articulate your goals in a concise and systematic manner. Your worksheet should include your goals, interests, values, and strengths. Furthermore, it should indicate the skills or experiences you need to cultivate to reach your desired outcomes. Once you list these, you can write out your current state, desired state, and actions to close the gaps with timelines and measurements.
#4 Establish your review schedule.
Make it a point to pause and reflect—at least annually—to evaluate your performance, acknowledge progress, celebrate achievements, and determine if there’s anything you’d like to modify. Use this time to gauge how you’re doing—highlighting what you want and need—to be successful. There is no right or wrong. One year may mean money or a specific title or position; other times, it may mean growth and development or a consistent place to go daily.
#5 Craft your brand strategy.
Expand your visibility proactively through multiple activities that amplify your personal brand. For example, shaping your narrative to showcase your career assets and conducting a SWOT analysis can help you hone your core messages and boost your confidence. Additionally, using select emotional intelligence skills can enhance how you present yourself and intensify your situational awareness to increase your communication relevancy.
Reclaim your sovereignty.
Your attitude and belief in yourself make all the difference in achieving your dreams. You don’t need to wait until a particular date or milestone to begin. Take one step—now—no matter how small, while you’re determined. Remember, you’re not alone if you’re uncomfortable with where to start or stuck at a particular step. Find someone to talk it through, search online for ideas, join a meet-up group, and set up a free career services consultation with me.
Deepen your perspective to activate your best.
As a lifelong student, certified professional coach, and consultant, activating the best in others through self-leadership, interpersonal relations, and team dynamics are passions of mine. My approach is personalized and customized, tapping into various assessments, disciplines, modalities, and techniques. Also, check out my “Micro & Mini Service Offerings” and try one session to inspire you. Sign up solo or with another person or group to work on a specific exercise or activity and split the costs! Contact me to get started.