This post is dedicated to Cherie Thomas, a mentor of mine who's helped me build a fulfilling life and career. She supported me through the following scenario and has assisted through countless others. Thank you endlessly, Cherie!
I've had the distinct privilege of developing leaders for years, and I've witnessed so many moments of "career bravery." One obvious example has been watching emerging leaders transition from individual contributors to managers. These folks often exercise an enormous amount of courage as they step away from their established area of expertise and venture into a world in which they're judged based on the performance of those who report to them. This can be especially challenging when one's peers have suddenly become their direct reports.Â
Alright, moving up in leadership can be scary. Got it.
What I really want to talk about is a form of career bravery that I rarely hear discussed... And that is stepping away from a leadership opportunity that's just not right for you.
The further along I've gotten in my career, the more respect I have for people who've paced themselves in leadership or even completely gotten off their professional track to find better alignment with their personal values. As I've come to learn firsthand, saying "no" to an opportunity can require a huge deal of bravery- in some cases, even more than saying "yes."Â
During the pandemic, I spent six months interviewing for the executive director role of a healthcare organization. As time passed, I eventually found myself in the top two candidates. While I knew the job would be tough, I was confident in my strategy recommendations as well as my newly formed relationships with the Board of Directors.
The night before the final interview, I was feeling comfortable with the presentation I was about to give. So, I used the time for soul-searching. After all, in addition to navigating a really serious family health concern, I was starting to wonder if I was living someone else's dream.Â
On the one hand, I could hear my mid-20s "business bro" self shouting "Woop! Woop! Woop! Woop!" Â On the other hand, I could see my eight-year-old self hunched over in the corner with tears in her eyes. The thing is, she liked to play business leader, teacher, and performer, and she knew deep down that life wouldn't feel complete without all three roles.Â
It was then that I had a moment of profound professional clarity: Just because I'm capable of doing something doesn't mean I should be doing it. (Higher Self, say what?!)
I knew I wanted to be more available to help my sick family member should he need it. I also desperately wanted to continue pursuing training and performing arts. This career that I had been fighting for for a half a year just wasn't compatible with my greatest hopes for myself if I was being totally honest.Â
So, one of my biggest moments of career bravery was saying "no" to the possibility of the job I had thought I wanted. And just like that, I found myself sending the organization all of my research and strategy recommendations, should that help them chart their path forward in any way.Â
While it was scary to step away from the benefits the position would've afforded (and to realize the opportunity may not come up again, at least for a while), the decision felt deeply right... So did the decision to pull myself out of healthcare altogether just a short while later to start my own training company.Â
So, to all my readers out there who are gunning for a promotion, I'm going to invite you to pause for just a moment:
What's your "why" for career advancement?Â
How does your next step serve your values and goals (not just professionally, but more broadly in life)? Could any other possibilities satisfy your values and goals in a more complete way?
What might be lost when something new is gained?Â
If you get that promotion, is it your dream you'll be living?
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