Career Development

Clear is kind – Brené Brown

The first step in getting more clarity about who we are, what we want, and why is what will propel us into the process of development.

Most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about who they would like to be and why. Being curious about who we are is called self-awareness. Assessments such as the DiSC will allow you to get a deeper understanding of your priorities and preferences.

Coupled with analysis, writing, and coaching we can identify habits and behaviors which might be holding us back from being the best we can be. 

Ariana has been coaching Washington University staff since 2016 and if there is one take away she has received from her experience, it is that most people want to grow but they get stuck in the transformation process. Coaching can help us get unstuck and get out of our own way. Below are some coaching steps she follows (described in visual above). Her goal is to facilitate whole-person growth through professional development while nurturing personal interests. 

Paint a Picture and Get Real

Once we have identified skills, knowledge, and interests we can start drawing out a vision; even if it may be a blurry one at first. This is the first step in an IDP (Individual Development Plan). Next, we want to think about what the current reality looks like. What are we seeing/doing in our everyday life and how do we feel about our work?

Find the Disconnect

Identifying gaps between our self-authored vision and current reality allows us to write out tangible steps to begin the transformation towards development. 

Your Manager as Accountability Partner

In the workplace, we want to be heard and seen by our leaders; therefore setting meetings with our manager to discuss the IDP is an important step. It provides accountability and conversations, which in turn may lead to opportunities for growth. 

Just Do It

Ever heard the saying “A goal without action is just a dream”? That same philosophy applies to career development. Once we have visualized and expressed even a glimpse of where we would like to be or who we want to become, it is time to put actual habits into place to help us achieve those goals.