Spring Clean Your Career
Yes, it’s that time of year.
I just spent a few days in the Brecon Beacons or to give them their Welsh name, Bannau Brechiniog, and the daffodils were out, new lambs were being born and the weather was warming up.
It’s at this time that we often feel the desire for change.
The classic declutter of stuff at home, out with the old in with the new. The winter coats are put away and clothes you haven’t seen in a while make a reappearance. Cupboards are cleared out and the stuff half-open and mouldy is thrown away.
I always need to gear up for a spring clean. I think about it first and what I want to achieve and then make time to do it and then go at it. It might take me a while to get revved up to do it but doesn’t it always feel amazing afterwards?
It made me think of Spring Cleaning and what that would look like for your career.
With any declutter you have to get everything out, sort through it, chuck out stuff that no longer serves you, keep the rest and create space for new things to come along.
So for a career, this would mean pausing, taking stock, thinking about if what you have now suits you and what you are wanting then evaluating all your career stuff and giving it a good once over and getting rid of what doesn’t serve you anymore.
I have in the past tried the Marie Kondo method of decluttering. Her mantra is to get rid of anything that doesn’t ‘Spark Joy’. And even if she’s admitted that now she has three kids, that keeping everything tidy has got a lot harder and she does let some things slide, I really do believe in that mantra.
So if you fancy a spring clean for your career, here are some things for you to think about.
Stop, and evaluate. Does what you are doing ‘spark joy’? If not, spend time getting clarity on what would. Create that vision.
Look at your career assets: your CV, your LinkedIn profile, your testimonials, your network and ask yourself ‘do they serve the purpose or vision I want?’ If not, time for a declutter and makeover. This takes work so make sure you carve out proper time.
Create an action plan. Just in the same way you’d have to plan a trip to the dump, the charity shop or some ‘make do and mend’ time, create a career action plan with a to do list. That might be a networking plan, a professional development plan. Something that will help you actually take action. You can break any goal into smaller steps if it all seems a bit overwhelming.
Okay, remember, if you need help with Spring Cleaning your Career, you can work with me on a 1-2-1 basis.
I’m thinking of doing tailor-made packages specifically working with people who either want to pivot or spring clean.
Let me know if you are interested!
May Spring put a spring in your step and a healthy colour on your cheeks.
Tracy
