|
May,
2008
U.S.
Library of Congress ISSN 1549-893X
Welcome
to Leadership Hand, a monthly e-newsletter
focusing on the softer side of leadership
to increase your effectiveness more quickly and
enjoyably with bottom-line results.
To
ensure receipt, please white-list our address by adding
"Info@" plus our domain name to your e-mail address book.
1. Do You
Know Your Change Cycle?
Do
you know your change cycle--the length of time before you need a
significant change in your work or work environment? Getting a sense
of this is a critical component for your professional well-being.
I know one executive
who is very aware of his change cycle and begins aggressively taking
action around the three-year mark. Because he has a shorter cycle,
he stays actively engaged in cultivating his networks and tending
other career management tasks that those with longer cycles might
let languish.
Your cycle may
be longer or shorter than his, depending on your needs both at work
and at home, the company and its opportunities for growth, as well
as what is occurring in the industry.
When you are
not aware of or in tune with your cycle, it can feel and look like
burn-out, or seem like the company has changed and is going in a
direction you can't support, or it may seem like you're at a crossroads
in your life. And all of these could be true. But when you can clearly
identify that your change cycle is a factor in your unease, any
other contributing factors take on a more normal size. Boredom is
a lot simpler and lighter to address than burn-out, as is "I
just need a change" rather than "the company has changed."
I have seen
people (myself included) overshoot their change cycles, when they
may have been handling a significant challenge professionally or
personally that extended over a period of time. I have also seen
people (like my clients and others engaged in their development)
who are experiencing significant growth and development have that
their cycles accelerate: they are eager to take on the next challenge
or discover work aligned with a vision that has become even clearer
and more compelling.
So, how do you
discover your change cycle if you do not know it? A review of your
work history can help reveal patterns, like the amount of time before
a change in substance or venue. How long was it before you were
taking on a new role within the same company, shifting to a new
industry, founding or selling a company? In hindsight, why did you
stay or why did you go? And how can you use that data in the future
to alert you to where you are in your cycle or to a need to prepare
for a change?
As you progress
in your career, you have more data to work with and can fine-tune
your understanding. This is when knowing yourself is elegant, satisfying,
and infinitely practical. You benefit, as does everyone with whom
you interact.
©
Copyright 2008, Beth Hand.
Beth Hand,
MBA helps leaders and organizations increase their effectiveness
and satisfaction, now and for the future. She can be reached at
(+1) 703.820.8074 or via her website www.leadershiphand.com.
2. Reprint
Permission
This is a copyrighted
publication. You are welcome to reprint an issue on a non-exclusive
basis provided you:
3.
Subscribe
Privacy
Click
here to subscribe. To unsubscribe click on the
link below. We
value your privacy. We never redistribute, rent or sell your
information to anyone or any entity.
We
invite you to forward this issue to your colleagues.
|