My brother Isaac- he has since gone home to be with the lord- was fond of quoting John Buchanan author of a prior century. “The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of that which is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope”. Isaac loved fishing and clearly made a distinction between ‘fishing’ and ’catching fish’. One was the innovative and exciting sport, the other was the ’result’ of a successful event- the catch.
Developing a career is as elusive as fishing . If it were easy, where would be the fun? There would be no sport! You just keep trying, you keep wetting your hook, you keep putting the bait out. You do it the right way and you will have a pay day- ‘you catch the fish’, attain your primary aim. But even if you do not catch a fish every time, you can still change someone’s life.
But far more frequently growth shows up on the other end of the continuum in small subtle ways that quietly create greater challenge, interest and satisfaction in a job”
This week I was reading Beverly Kaye’s “Career conversations employees want”, an exciting little book on helping employees grow in their careers. Beverly, a co-author of the best selling book “Love them or lose them”, has an exciting yet simple definition of developing a career. “Career development” according to Beverly , “is nothing more than helping others grow, and nothing less!”
“Helping employees to grow can take a nearly unlimited number of forms. On the one hand you help employees to move to new and expanded roles. But far more frequently growth shows up on the other end of the continuum in small subtle ways that quietly create greater challenge, interest and satisfaction in a job”.
This way of looking at career development moves it from its narrower perspective of “climbing the career ladder” and getting to higher positions in the hierarchical arrangement of companies and businesses to a more encompassing and holistic understanding of an employee’s career history, challenges and interests. Just like ‘fishing’ the sport, career development need not always result in the employee wanting more, bigger, or better promotions, raises, prestige or power. The sport of fishing may just be as exciting. Even if the employee does not catch a fish every time-go up the career ladder- his or her life can still change for the better if the right career development tools are used.
In truth the definition of career development needs to be redesigned, remodeled to include and reflect the more subtle forms of career progression including taking up more engaging roles, embracing challenges and enjoying better job satisfaction.
Too frequently we limit the scope of career conversation to job promotion-catching the fish. This is just a drop in the bucket. We can do much more and harness just as much happiness
For more information and insights about developing your career visit our Email coaching program at http://www.expressexpertise.com/lesson/getting- started/ and make a coaching request
For further readings on career development please see our articles below:
- The critical success factors concept
- Getting to new heights
- The career competence package
- Strategic documents you need to have
- The Logical approach to career enhancement
- Is your attitude letting you down?
- Lost at the top of the ladder
- Laying the ground work for success
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