Now What?® Coaching
from Laura Berman Fortgang
If finding a new job is on your list of to-do’s this December, you may think you should skip this month and get back to it in the New Year. Not so, say these experts; January is actually the most competitive job searching month of the year.
Here are some great ways to capitalize on the season to give yourself the gift of landing that job sooner rather than later.
I’m on my way home from my second annual meet up with The Super Power Sisterhood, my mastermind group of fabulous women ranging in age from 40’s-70’s.
We’re all pros in the same profession coming together for fun and focused work on each of us.
The lessons learned there, I’m putting forth to you as the holiday season and year-end is upon us. Reflection happens. Some thoughts on wants and goals come forth. ‘Tis the season for renewal.
Why go it alone? The more the merrier.
Form a group to support your career transition (or whatever you are up to):
Who are your ideal members?
What do you want to have in common and what differences do you want?
My group has a common industry but different ages and strengths.
A career transition group would benefit from different industries, for example.
How often will you meet?
We meet once a year in person and several times by phone year round.
What will happen when you are together?
When live, we give each person 90 mins. on the “hot seat” getting everyone’s attention and resources.
What do you require of your group?, are your rules about attendance?
What are your expectations for support and behavior?
Our group established that showing up and attendance is critical to staying in the group. Short of family emergencies or health issues, we expect attendance.
We put forth Commitment, Connection, and Communication as guiding principles for our group
My colleagues and I are coaches so we are good at listening, not talking over each other, and we ask a lot of questions and don’t give flat out advice.
I highly recommend that, at the very least, you avoid telling people what they “should” do. Make suggestions, offer resources and ideas but watch out for the very word “should.” It usually reveals your own agenda more than what’s good for another. And few of us hear “should” and get excited about whatever comes behind it.
There’s no point in forming a group if you don’t get what you want out of it.
What do you want? Ideas? Connections? Guidance? Weekly check-ins? Accountability?
For us, there is renewal, clarity, focus, next steps and the surge of energy that comes from knowing you’re not alone.
Follow these guidelines and get going. The more the merrier!
P. S. The Super Power Sisterhood includes a lot of chocolate. I’m not mandating that for your group, but it couldn’t hurt.
Got a gut feeling that it may be time to make a move to a new career?
Here are some signs to help give you a little more clarity – take a minute to check it out and see where you land.
As a new year is on the horizon, this might be the perfect time to start putting some things in place and finding the support you need for whatever changes are in order.
