What drives your career? The majority of people answer that question with a semi-heartfelt answer without much thought and with personal circumstances often influencing their motivation. Knowing the answer is important because your response will direct your career steps.
A good example of why you should care about what drives your career happened the other day to a manager who was offered a promotion. The opportunity involved moving from a management role to one with a larger scope in managing regions. Most would view the offer as a great opportunity to prove their management skills and acquire more experience while also getting an increase in pay.
The offer seemed like a good chance for growth and when they discussed it with their family all were in agreement this was the right choice to make. The manager accepted the promotion, his name was broadcast in the company’s newsletter and three months later he was on the brink of job searching for a position just like his old one. Why? A senior title with more responsibility was not what motivated him.
What he discovered after accepting the job was surprising to him, it wasn’t the title that drove him to satisfaction but rather the interaction he had with the customers and stepping in to help his team when needed. He stayed with his new position for more than a year and ended up leaving a good employer to work for a smaller company.
Career drivers come in all different forms; some people chase titles and benefits that come with more responsibility, and others are driven by purposeful work.
Recognizing what drives your career helps you make good decisions when opportunities arise that seem like a good fit but lack the real interest that keeps you engaged and motivated.
Career drivers are entirely personal and you probably have worked side by side with another who is driven by power and influence. The need to find a job with fewer turnovers, more security or a company that values employees can all be factors that drive your career.
Whatever motivates you can also serve as a lesson in self-awareness and growth. What about the drive toward security in accepting a job based on a higher salary alone? How many people do you know who live their lives by checking off days toward early retirement or staying with a job that’s not fulfilling but is stable.
It helps to know what drives or motivates you because you will spend an average of 90,000 hours at work during your lifetime.
What drives your career choices?
