By Bill Belknap and Hélène Seiler, GetFive Certified Coaches
When you’re driving around town and you approach a traffic light, three simple colors tell you how to proceed. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a traffic light for your career? Good news! There is. You just might not be paying attention to it.
Here is a quick guide for reading your personal career traffic light and what to do when you see it change color:
Green-light mode:
Your career is on track. You have clear objectives and a good feel for your next few moves. You enjoy your job and your boss is considering you for a promotion. You are also in good health and have a satisfying work-life balance.
But just like a traffic light, it won’t stay green forever. GetFive encourages you to maintain and cultivate your external networks. Don’t drop your guard and start feeling too comfortable in this mode. It’s important to continue to challenge yourself.
Yellow-light mode:
You may have a direction in mind, but your next move isn’t so clear. You haven’t discussed any long-term career plans in the last year. Perhaps you’re not sure if you fit in with your current company culture or the company is in trouble. You could also be in yellow-light mode if you have a new boss, you are starting a new position or there is a merger or takeover in process.
Picture yourself approaching a yellow light. You see it up ahead and you slowly start to decelerate. You shouldn’t slam on the breaks or the gas pedal, just like you should be careful not to make any quick decisions during this time in your career. Get to know decision makers and talk with people in the company who you respect. Ask for their honest feedback so you can get a sense of where you fit in. Strengthen your network and consider seeking professional help from a coach or counselor. Stay confident and you’ll eventually get back to green.
Red-light mode:
Of course, red lights are the easiest to spot. You know you need to stop immediately. A red light in your career also calls for action right away. Common red lights include:
- Being fired or your position gets eliminated.
- Your boss resigns.
- Your company has a series of bad quarters.
- You receive an average (or worse) performance review.
If your light turns red, it’s time to get strategic and tactical. Take action right away as procrastination will only hurt the process further. Reach out to your network, seek help from a coach and gather your support system.
GetFive can help support you in every stage of your career. Use this guide to assess your progress and empower yourself to get to the place you want to be.
Bill Belknap is a certified GetFive Master Career Coach and the co-author of For Executives Only and Applying Business Techniques to Your Job Search, and regularly speaks to networking groups about the “ins and outs” of conducting an effective job search.
Hélène Seiler is a certified GetFive Career Coach with over 25 years of experience in organization and leadership development and talent management. She has been coaching and training executives since 2001. As a facilitator, Hélène develops and conducts women leadership development programs for global organizations.
