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If you have ever thought “I would love to make a big career move!” you are not alone. What often comes next, however, is: “I could never do it, though.”

But….what if you did?

Taking a big career leap (BCL) is not the same thing as other professional goals such as aiming to meet your annual performance metrics, or challenging yourself to go to more networking events, or, give more regular feedback to your team members.

Taking a big leap is life changing. It can be daunting. You might not know where to start. You might be unsure if you have the resources. It might not be the right time in your life.

But with exploring and moving it forward bit by bit – it just MIGHT be possible.

Instead of: Shelving your BCL because the timing is wrong, you will fail, or the best one: “What will people think!?” ....

Try: Exploring your BCL – and then decide if it can be done.

1. Name it. Write it down. Say it out loud. Give your BCL room to stay. To take up space. Not shooing it away mentally is going to help you keep your dream present and make you more comfortable with the idea. AND keep that exciting energy – the hope of possibility – alive with it.
2. Deliberately explore it. I had a coaching client who hired me to help with making a BCL, which, in her case, meant leaving corporate life to start her own business. We spent our initial sessions exploring: What services would she be offering? How would she get her first client? What would she name her company? What would her pitch be to potential clients? What was her timeline? Staying in this deliberate exploration phase brought to life not only what was possible, but what she had already been imagining.
3. Identify what you have learned. This step is important. For my client, a key takeaway was that she didn’t have some of the information she would need to make her BCL. For example, she needed to ensure that she would not be required to sign a non-compete agreement if she left her company, which might inhibit her from getting the client she had identified in the exploration phase.
4. Challenge yourself. After taking the time to stay with your BCL, keeping it present and exploring the possibility of it, it’s time to move forward. Take one action. ONE step in the direction of that leap. For my client, one next step was to write the home page of her website and find someone to design her logo. Whatever the next step is, no matter how small, take it. The important thing is to DO IT.
5. You get to decide. You have cleared a path and can see your BCL very well be may be possible. And not as scary or as challenging as you originally thought. It takes time, clarity, and a lot of mental strength to really go for that next big move with your career. The good news is always this: your career is yours, and no one else’s. It’s for you to forge, be creative with, and take it to new heights – if you want to and when you’re ready. You know better than anyone else if the leap is right, or, right for you right now.

We can build our professional careers in a series of small moves or in one big leap, like my client who started her own business. If you are considering a big leap – go for it. Don’t shrink from it. It may be much more possible than you ever thought.

And my client? Well, she started her new business so quickly after we started working together even I was surprised! But, it told me how ready she was to take that BCL all along.

Developing self-confidence is not an easy task, especially when it comes to our careers.

When we are applauded for the assignment we did well, the client we made happy, or the job we successfully won, it makes us feel really good about ourselves. When others see and note our good work and success, it feels even better. That’s called external validation.

But how do we do this for ourselves?

Instead of: Your confidence being bolstered only by what others think and say about you…

Try: Looking inward to grow your self-confidence – on your own.

1. You did a great job: Own the moment. If you have ever done a great job on something -- from meeting a tight deadline, to launching a brand-new initiative, to getting your kids to school equipped with everything they need AND making it to work on time (yes, this counts as a great job!) -- you know that certainty that reverberates from within. It’s a moment in time where we feel our feet planted firmly on the ground, our head clear with the knowledge that we knocked it out of the park, and we KNOW we are simply the best and the sky’s the limit. Take time to write this down: What does this feel like? How did you get to this amazing place of confidence and certainty? What does it make you feel like doing NEXT? Own this moment and bask in it: You made this happen, no one else.

2. You nailed that presentation: Celebrate how YOU choose to! You just aced that presentation in front of your boss after hours of preparation and practice. You are amazing and you can do anything! Instead of waiting for others to celebrate, take time to do this for yourself in the way that feels meaningful to you. Do you want to be with friends? Hang out with colleagues? Go to the gym? Celebrate with a good meal, a shopping spree, extra time with your family or your pet? Steering the celebration will give you a sense of ownership over the accomplishment, which will do wonders for your self-confidence.

3. You just won the job: Keep that momentum going! Congratulations! You have so many people waiting to hear if you got the offer, accepted the offer, when you will start, what perks come with it, and so on. This is a great time to keep the momentum going that you have already generated from all of those interviews, follow-up conversations, assessments you took, negotiations you took part in….don’t let it flame out.

Start evaluating short term goals or the problems to solve that you discussed with your manager during your interview. Make a list of who you want to meet and network with in your new role. Look more deeply at things within the company that interest you and decide how you will act on them, from diversity programming to community involvement to leadership opportunities. Now is the time for you to keep building on what you won. That boost of confidence comes from not just winning the job, but from recognizing all you will contribute to your new employer.

Confidence can come easily when others validate us for what we are doing well. This is so true when it comes to our careers. But lasting self-confidence is found inward, if only we take credit for all that we do well, the achievements we accrue, and knowing that WE made them happen … not someone else.

Why look to someone else for their vote of confidence when you can look right within YOU?

In 2020, you likely discovered your resilience, based on the many challenges you faced in life and career. Resilience speaks to your ability to bounce back from a setback, overcome adversity, and strengthen yourself mentally.

But what about your resourcefulness?

Resourcefulness hasn’t gotten as much airtime, although it is just as crucial in this new, Covid-19 landscape. Resourcefulness is your ability to think creatively or imaginatively in finding solutions, and it can be key to conducting a successful job search during challenging times.

Instead of: Waiting for a recruiter to find you, crossing your fingers you will do well during that interview, or hoping the universe sends you the bat signal ...

Try: Shaping and executing your job search – resourcefully.

1. Use LinkedIn to help you goal-set and gather new information. When embarking on a job search, it’s important to know what you want. For example, if you are a project manager and like what you do but want to change companies or industries, that is a much different scenario than finding yourself at a “what should I do with my life?” crossroads. As a Career and Executive Coach, I can assure you that both can be done, and both require gathering important data.LinkedIn is a great tool for this, and I don’t mean simply building your profile to say you have one. I mean using this platform to dig into companies, make connections with people who work inside organizations you are interested in, and identify people who are in careers that appeal to you. THEY have the information YOU need to make a well-informed career decision. Is working in the nonprofit industry as rewarding as it looks? What does starting your own business entail? Stop wondering and find people who can tell you.

2. Think of your resume as a tool to open doors. You will always need a resume, and you should keep it updated as your career evolves. Once it’s good to go, think (resourcefully!) about how you can get it into the right hands.

   For example, it’s obvious that you’ll need your resume handy when applying for a job. But how do you use it when networking or conducting an informational interview? In these scenarios, you may shirk from sending over your resume, for fear it will look like you are asking that person for a job. However, think about it another way: Sending your resume prior to the call or virtual coffee provides the other person with important information about your career history – something you will both be prepared to talk about. Really, this document is a conversation starter.

3. Research your interviewers. In job interviews, the key is to know yourself so well that you can speak to your strengths, provide examples of your achievements, and translate your value into how you can do the same for a potential employer (and in a very short period of time). Take your resourcefulness to the next level by researching your interviewers, and bringing that data into your interview through active participation.

   For example, be prepared to ask your potential manager about her career path, what it’s like to work for the organization, and what her own goals might be. You may also pick up cues about her leadership skills, employee morale, or challenges that exist internally – all of which help you decide whether you would like to work for this company. What’s more, asking good, specific questions allows you to personalize your exchange. They’ll notice you’ve done your homework, and they’ll remember you for it.

   If you work on one skill to help advance your career this year, let it be your resourcefulness. Thinking resourcefully about how to search for a job, expand your network, and participate in an interview may be the next “it” skill as this new, Covid-19 landscape continues to unfold.

   Look for “How to Be Resourceful at Work” in my next Career Hack!