A number of years into my corporate career, we did an assessment to find out our Career Anchors.
Mine was Lifestyle, which I was absolutely mortified by at the time. How unprofessional of me!
Was I not committed enough? Driven enough? Would my company think I wasn’t serious about my career and development?
It felt embarrassing. Definitely something to keep very quiet and try to change.
And yet…
It was so very accurate. And so very useful.
While I can’t remember the details of that assessment - or even used it since - the headline has remained. Lifestyle really is my career anchor.
It’s not the only thing that drives what I do, but it is an important consideration. It’s been the foundation of how I’ve worked out each next step:
How can I work in a way that works for me?
How can I find a role that lets me live the life I want?
What kind of work means I can win at being me?
There are a number of other Career Anchors, and not everyone’s is the same, but these questions could be useful when any of us are deciding what to do in our work lives.
Because the work we do fits into, and shapes, the bigger picture of our life.
It’s a part of the whole that can have a big impact on the rest.
Wishing you all a week of figuring out what anchors you in your life and work,
