Make 2023 about plans, not goals. On-point market trends for CEOs and top managers on career management. Action steps to reverse engineer your destination and ensure constant stress-free progress in your career through 2023. Before the frantic goal-setting paranoia explodes, you may benefit from my take as an executive search consultant and career coach in the arena. Please reach out if you want me to assess your best options.
Why plans and not just goals to advance your career in 2023
Top professionals often skip for themselves what they would never skip for their team, projects, or company: a specific career advancement plan. They set the goal but need more sharpness when it comes to planning. This may be because their goal sounds appealing, but it needs to be aligned with their values or bypasses personal life/work balance. Then the planning doesn't have fuel and fades away.
Your first step in the plan is exquisite goal setting.
It would be best if you had a deep inquiry and good questions to get you on track. In the end, you'll find a short list of questions you can use to be clear on your goal. Then, you need to reverse-engineer your purpose and turn it into a plan.
As soon as you have a plan, you have action.
With a plan, you can measure your progress, and the pain of investing time and energy and not getting results can be hugely off-putting. You'll feel achievement and self-confidence as soon as you take the steps and get results.
In the prospects of a 2023 economic recession, what should I do?
Focusing on your career for 2023 - and always, it's essential to distinguish reliable information from misinformation; and objective scenarios from your subjective perception, which includes limiting beliefs and poor choices about your career.
Very negative communication is being injected about the crisis and 2023.
This creates an artificial negative perception of the market and the upcoming year that triggers individual fears and freezes us on the spot. Will 2023 be a difficult year? Will I have an opportunity? Do I need to save? Do I need to plan a move? Shall I go, or shall I stay? Shall I invest in myself or be satisfied with what I have? Actually, I don't love any of this.
It shouldn't be in such a deep crisis next year. We will see companies thriving, so it comes down to us as individuals to contribute and spot our opportunities.
Market trends captivating my attention
Suppose I look at openings and candidate searches in our agency for the upcoming year. In that case, I spot opportunities in IT and Technology development and financial and insurance development technologies where huge readjustments occur.
I also see opportunities in the Human Resources sector needing to be noticed.
Many senior managers are still struggling with post-covid management and leading issues. This prevents them from stepping into a new role as active business partners. They have the potential to understand the situation in the company and the business needs and then go into the market and hire the external suppliers that provide the best service to mitigate the risk, handle difficult situations, and support their development and growth on time. That's why top-level coaching will be a focus of attention for many companies to boost team and individual development.
The life-work balance will be a decisive factor.
Another trend captivating my attention is the growing importance of physical, emotional, and mental balance. Looking at our headhunting projects and executive search trends, the focus next year will be people leaving companies not for the challenge, not even the salary, but for the work-life balance. How much free time do I have? How much time can I spend with my family? How much time do I have to invest in my development? Is traveling time driving me away from my personal and professional goals? This'll be a focus next year concerning whether employees are changing careers or deciding not to.
Don't be afraid of trends and pessimistic or difficult forecasts. Make bold steps.
I recommend you plan your career in 2023 as if it was the best year.
This's not being naive but taking responsibility for your stand and actions. If you set a goal, create a plan, and take action, you'll land somewhere. You won't feel stuck. You'll gain experience, and no matter what, you'll learn from that.
A plan gives insight into what you'll love to achieve and how you can get there. A good plan includes your targeted goal, a clear timeline, and the specific steps you need to take.
Understand your desires first, and find your sweet spot.
This is about setting your goal, identifying your sweet spot, and then proactively searching for those opportunities.
There's always an opportunity if you know where you'd love to land, but being clear on the destination is challenging when you think independently.
Some questions that will help you with the deep inquiry are:
- What inspires you for 2023?
- What would you love to achieve in your career and personal life?
- Are those two aligned?
- What market would I love to work in?
- What industry do I desire?
- What country and what company do I admire?
- Would I love to stay in my company?
- Would I love to change the company?
- Is my current position the correct department for me?
- Would I love to grow in this particular area, in this specific department?
- Would I completely change my expertise?
Your sweet spot might be a combination of something you really are great at, your desires, and the options available on the market. Watch the career transition training here for more insights if you still need to.
Be very pragmatic in your reverse engineering approach.
Identify what you really desire, but not on a big scale. Cut it down to the specifics, understand where your desire stems from, and be very pragmatic in your reverse engineering approach.
Setting your first action is crucial as soon as you have your end destination:
- What steps can I implement today, tomorrow, and the day after to get closer to my goal?
- What would be the first minor step?
Schedule reflection and review time throughout the quarter and the year. This time will serve you to measure, course-correct, and identify external support if needed.
Be proactive in creating your opportunities.
If you react to the market and what's available and only apply for the open positions, you will land a job that is partially your sweet spot and resent it rather quickly. Especially if you're a seasoned manager or director because you don't aim for more but better at your level.
Enter the new year by proactively identifying and creating career and development opportunities that fit you like a glove. If you need support in brainstorming, focusing, and making your tailored-made career plan, remember you're not alone on that.
You're welcome to book a career assessment call with me using this link.
