A former boss used to tell our team that the most dangerous job is a comfortable one. We don’t learn new things and grow being comfortable. To grow, we need to stretch ourselves to discover what we are truly capable of. He always maintained that if we get too comfortable, it’s time to move on. To get somewhere, we need to acknowledge we can’t stay where we are. And to move on we need clarity of purpose and direction. Clarity means knowing what we want and having awareness of our options. It is said that clarity is the first step to success. If so, then the second step would be taking action. And this is typically where things get more complicated. The fear of the unknown and making decisions may cloud our clarity and dim our inner yearning to go for what we want. We tend to get wrapped up in all that we don’t know, all the challenges, and the gloom and doom worst case scenarios. We may get paralyzed and delay making any changes to the current status quo seeking some sort of a guarantee of success before moving forward. Fear makes us doubt ourselves and agonize. Simply stated, what we want is on the other side of fear. To make any changes, we need the courage to go for what we want with intention and boldness, to do the things that scare us. I believe it’s Aristotle who said that courage is the greatest quality because it makes everything else possible. There’s always an element of risk when we try something new. However, avoiding new challenges might be the biggest risk of all. Fear is a sign that there’s something valuable at stake. We may be losing something but in hope of a greater gain, something better. Courage is trust in ourselves and allowing ourselves to do what is right for us knowing there are no guarantees for success. It’s daring to go beyond the familiar believing that the best possible outcome is within our reach. So break the status quo and engage in the process of change with determination and an open mind. There are always options when things get messy. It’s always possible to course correct. Job hunting is one of life’s biggest stressors. It is not for the faint of heart. It requires courage. Putting ourselves out there networking, telling people we are looking for a new job and asking for help take courage. Sending applications, interviewing and not being selected can test our courage. For some, interviewing is “just plain SCARY!” in the words of a former client. Even when you are well-prepared for the interview having done your research and having practiced the tough interview questions, you never know what to expect. Interviewing requires great courage. Handling rejection is never easy. Dealing with the highs and lows of job searching requires tremendous emotional strength. One day you are on top of the world feeling excited about an opportunity only to feel utterly disappointed and deflated the following day. The key to surviving job searching is to recognize it’s a process. Be prepared to get comfortable with the uncomfortable and courageously keep moving forward. Having the courage to turn the negative into a positive will set you apart. And remember: • The job search is temporary and will end. • A better job is possible! • It’s not always about you. There are many reasons why you don’t hear back from a connection or a job application. • Every rejection moves you closer to the position that’s right for you. • You learn from every experience and interview, whether resulting in a job offer or not, yet. Throughout the job search process, acknowledge your fears but keep taking one choiceful action at a time. It’s the steps that count, big or small. Building mental strength is like building physical strength and stamina - the more we exercise the stronger and better at it we get. Employers seek confident and courageous leaders who’d be able to create a compelling vision and set the agenda to move forward during tough times; leaders who’d be able to make tough decisions in order to see continuous success. Typical interview questions might be: 1. What do you do when you are confronted with a situation that screams “red flag?” 2. Give me an example of a courageous leadership action you have taken and are particularly proud of. 3. Have you ever been given a project that you felt made no sense? Describe the situation, your actions, and the outcome. Consider this question: If you had an infinite amount of courage, what would you do? I invite you to record your answer to any of the questions above and share with me via Google Drive, Dropbox, or your favorite collaboration platform. I will respond to everyone within 3 business days but can commit to providing detailed feedback only to the first 5 who contact me. More about interviewing skills in my next blog posts. Be sure to follow the savvy professional series for job search and interviewing tips and offers for free feedback and critique. Email me at info@choicefulpath.com
