Have you become your job? And overcome your management challenges in 90 minutes π
Hello, who are you?
What do you do?
When you meet someone for the first time, how long does it take for you tell them your job?Β In our modern society, so much of our identity and sense of worth is attached to our job title, or the organisation we work for.
Last week I had three separate conversations on the subject of when identity and work entwine and become unhealthy.
I heard a great example about an organisation where there's a large cohort of people who joined from a professional services firm.Β This group still identify themselves as being ex-[previous employer], and even hold social events to support this.
For someone else, the idea of not 'belonging' to an organisation as they explore other career options has caused them to lose their sense of what they're good at and the value they bring as an individual.
For another person, their attachment to the kudos of their previous role has stopped them fully engaging in their new career - one that they enjoy much more but feel lacks the status of their old one.
As humans we have a basic need to belong, to find our 'people'.Β But when does this start to backfire against our own self-identity and how can we realign these things?
Three things to try
1) Learn moreΒ about your team, beyond the role they play in the team.Β Do you have a group of keen bakers or football players that can lead to some interesting conversations, debates and social activities?
2) Remind yourself of your strengths - the problems you help people solve and why people come to YOU for help.Β You are more than a job title.Β (Bonus: go for a job interview to realise that you do have skills to offer and that are marketable outside of your current organisation).
3) Stop introducing yourself with your (current or previous) job.Β Talk about all the other interesting things you do (write a list of all of these if you need some prompts).
You'll be amazed at the deeper and more interesting conversations you have with a broader range of new people as a result.
Invitation: Troubleshoot Your Challenges
Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the jumbled up pieces of your role as a manager or team leader?
You have to manage your team, the demands of your clients and stakeholders plus actuallyΒ do your own work AND have a life.
Let me help.
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Throughout February I'm offering 90-minute 'troubleshooting' sessions, to help you overcome all of the above.
Book your session in my calendar here.
Weβll dig deep into your specific challenges as a manager (including those questions about managing others youβre too shy to ask at work).
Weβll work together to create a practicalΒ action plan that sets you in the right direction with your development and role as a manager.
Iβll share my expertise and knowledge in learning and development, coaching and leadership.
Iβll also use my experience as someone who has been through that same transition, faced the challenges and lived to tell the tale!
For this month only, these practical, 90 minuteΒ sessions are just AUD$150 (PS.Β an hour of coaching is at least $200 so this really is an excellent deal).
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Book your session in my calendar here.
Quick Tip:Β Time to think
As a manager, you can easily find yourself the subject of everyone's whims and demands.Β To make better decisions and generate new solutions try this...
Instead of filling your week with meetings with other people, schedule one or two 15 minute meetings with yourself to THINK about a problem (bonus points if you make this a walking meeting),Β READ an interesting article or WATCH an insightful video (no, not another cat video).
- How does that change the pace of your day?
- How can you use what you've thought about/read/watched to help solve a problem or do something differently?
- How can you pass this on?
Want to see your management or leadership challenge addressed with helpful advice and resources?Β Email me at steph@stephclarke.com and let me know what topics you'd like me to include in future newsletters.
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