The Larsen Group

Architects of Change

Home

Circles of Change Radio

Show Overview

Upcoming Calendar

2008 Index

Mentorship

Navigating Your Career

Become The CEO of You

Voices of Transition

Life Begins at 180 MPH

Change Your Questions

Trade Up

Heart in Your Hand

Contemporary Resumes

Play to Your Strengths

Passion and Purpose

Social Capital

Leading Change

Financial Planning

TalkingTalk Radio

Attitude of Gratitude

Changing in Place

Blueprint for Change

Life in the Fast Lane

Mama Llama's

Collaboration

Run, Walk, Live

I Want MORE

Voices Across Borders

Mission Driven

Take Control

Who Knows You

Two-of-a-Kind

My Turn

Talking About Fetishes

Winds of Change

Heart in Healthcare

Opening Up

Tucson Crossroads

Grindhopping

What's Hot, What's Not

Career Tracks to China

Natural Awakenings

Microfinancing

Four E's

Values at the Door

It's in the Genes

Pioneering the Way

Community, Faith, Zeal

Unconventional Wisdom

My Energy

Protean Careers

Maestro, Please

Mavericks

Peace of Mind

He Said, She Said

For the Record

Managing Conflict

Rainchaser

Connecting

Right Place and Time

Promises Kept

Bravo

LeaderShape

Aging Lite

Hearts of Peace

Mindworks

First Ladies Lady

Hands of an Artisan

Open Pathways

Trade Without Borders

Healthcare&Well-Being

Predictive Index

Negotiating Solutions

Ballet Tucson

Ride Tall

Medicare ABCD

Right Brain Way

Arbuckles

Mind, Body, Spirit

Many Hats

Professional Paradise

Unleashing Life

Late Life Journey

Body Language

SIMA ®

SIMA Overview

SIMA Process

Resources

Books

Research

Dr. Larsen's Bio

Contact Us

Site Help

Windows Media Player

May 25, 2008
"Changing in Place:
Making the Most of
Where You Are"
with Dr. Zara Larsen
Media
For best results use Windows Media Player
Circles of Change:  Conversations with Dr. Zara Larsen
 on Change Leadership and Career Fulfillment
 
May 27, 2008
"Changing in Place:Making the Most of Where You Are"
“Changing in Place:  Making the Most of Where You Are”


 
  Guiding Principles and Perspectives: 
  1. Career progression does not necessarily mean promotion; in fact, some of the best moves are at your current level – lateral assignments within your same function or major program to broaden your perspectives of the organization and its products, services, customers and the associated employees’ roles.

          Action:  Be open to and search out moves that broaden your perspectives, company network and develope new skills.

  1. Sometimes it is very hard to “go back” and pick up a skill or set of perspectives missed due to advancement, the skipping of which can hurt you in the long run.

           Action:  Take the lead of those before you.  Fill your toolbox with real experiences.  Get on the front lines.

  1. Career advancement can be more about “leading and living across”, in particular given these days of virtual organizations, matrices and teams, as opposed to just managing up and down.

          Action:   Special projects to tackle a critical business issue, committees to serve the community on behalf of the firm, or process improvement initiatives with peers build interaction muscle.

  1. If your assignments have been in a single function, consider a cross-functional move; if within one major program or business unit, go cross-program or at minimum, take on a new role within the same program.
          Action:  Where are the hottest, most difficult assignments in the firm not just today, but you predict will  surface tomorrow 
  1. Some of the most valuable players in an organization often speak the language of both internal and external customers.
           Action:  If your assignments have been outward facing (customer), rotate to an inward facing (internal firm operation) role and vice a versa. Consider how to periodically shadow a respected colleague "on the other side",offering him/her to join you.  
  1. Special two year, multiple assignment rotations programs can be a great investment for the future, provided the work is “real work” with deliverables, and not perceived as just passive training.   Be wary of sponsorship support and the off-boarding process. 

           Action:  Consider how to develop a custom program with a mentor, sponsor, and/or supervisor, unique to your  learning needs and  interests – in-job expansion with investment value to your department.

  1. Expatriate assignments to “Go Global” or go beyond the classical lines of an organization are extraordinary for the right candidate at the right time. 

           Action:  Assess carefully your lifelines while being potentially out-of-sight.  The repatriation process needs to be explicit on the outbound.

  1. When attending company meetings and functions, take the opportunity to get to know people from other functions, departments, roles.  Expand and nuture your internal network whenever you can.  Brokers have the inside edge on future trends and opportunities.

           Action:  “Interview” new colleagues as if you were writing a report on your company’s career opportunities, with the added question of “how could I help to make your job easier?”

  1. Annually revisit and step up your resume, education and training plan

          Action:  Are you poised ready for an opportunity when it appears?

  1. Consider changing your question from “what opportunities are there in my company that I could benefit from?" to “what opportunity could I CREATE for the company, and thus contribute in new ways? What is my unique value proposition?”
  1. What built the careers of the past and present, may be obsolete in the not-so-distant future.  Remember – when someone offers advice, they are likely 50% speaking (or writing!) to themselves to confirm success or rethinking a choice, failure and learning experience.
                Only YOU are 100% accountable to navigate your own career,
                weighing the trends and changes in your functional specialty,
                company, and industry. Keep an eye out for emerging fields and game-
                changing industries.   This can be an energizing process that
                keeps you in touch with your unique passions.

Copyright The Larsen Group: Architects of Change 2008

Website powered by Network Solutions®