Client Question: “I received some feedback that I should consider taking a different role. How do I decide what to do?
First of all feedback is a gift. You get to decide if you want to do something with it or not. The first thing you should do is sit with the feedback and see if it still rings true for you a few days later. You don’t want to do something impulsive and then have any regrets.
For your current role, ask yourself the following:
- What if you had not been given this feedback? Would you stay where you are?
- Would you be happy staying where you are currently?
- Were you looking to do something else and this information came at a good time?
- Are you still growing in your current role?
For the new possible role, ask yourself the following:
- Does it still sound like something that you would like to pursue?
- Would this be a good thing for your development to pursue this change?
- Would you be happy in this type of role?
- Does this role align with your future vision for your career?
- Does it align with your values, priorities, etc.?
- If you decide to this, what impacts would it have for you? (financial, location, responsibility, etc.)
Once you have a better idea of how you feel about it, you might want to get some input from others. You should talk to your own personal “board of directors.” These are the people in your life that you trust to give you honesty and insight that you may not be able to see for yourself.
- What is their perspective on this change and you possibly doing something different?
- Do they think it plays to your strengths?
- Do they see that this would be a good move for your career?
It can be so validating if someone gives you feedback that you should look at another role. You get excited by it and it makes you feel great. However, that doesn’t mean that you just start moving in that direction without considering the options and impacts of that type of decision. Take the time to reflect on what this change would mean and you get to decide if it is right for you!