10 questions that shaped my career...
And they might just do the same for you...
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As a coach, i’m a HUGE fan of asking powerful questions. They help you reflect, explore and examine what is REALLY going on for you - in any part of your life or work.
And as long as you are honest (and prepared to be a tiny bit vulnerable), then you’ll get so much out of sitting with these types of questions and allowing the insights to shape what you do and where you go next.
With that in mind, I’ve curated 10 of my favourite coaching questions to ask yourself if you want to get focused and intentional about building your career.
I know they work, because they’re the same questions I have asked myself at critical junctures in my own career - like when I changed career in my mid 40s, or when I was weighing up a big move, or whether I was ready to leave a certain role.
Here they are below - I’d love it if you could reply and let me know which one(s) resonate for you the most?
If you KNEW you couldn’t fail, what would you do for a career and why?
Imagine your BEST day at work - what does it look like and how is it different from what you are doing now?
What matters to you most in your career? And why?
What comes easy to you at work that others find difficult?
What are your values? And does your current role feel aligned with them? (If not, why not?)
Compare work/life balance (or satisfaction) with financial reward - which ranks higher for you right now and why? Will you feel the same in 5 or 10 years?
If you were advising your best friend on what to do next (that best friend is YOU in this scenario!), what advice would you give them?
What decision or action have you been avoiding taking? And why?
How will you feel in a year’s time if you do NOT take action?
What’s one step or action that you could take right now?
Of course, there are so many more questions available to us as wrestle with work and career, but I hope these give you a head start, with whatever career conundrums you’re facing at the moment.
Let me know how you get on!
(And tune in Thursday where I’ll be sharing some advice on one of the hardest things to manage as a team leader…)
Louise
P.S. this post is free, so please share it if you found it valuable and think others will too!