Career Max Group

Essential Tools for Career Path Self-Management

The Good News:

Successful companies are smart enough to invest in their Employees and Managers.

• They know that even in a tough economy, when employees are scared and feel they have fewer choices, it is important to develop and retain critical talent, high potential employees, and key leaders.
• Great companies understand that in order to survive and thrive into a booming economy, they need to keep their key employees engaged and focused in developing and managing their careers.
• They are also willing to invest in training and mentoring to make this happen.

The Dilemma:

Despite best efforts to train Managers on how to coach and mentor their employees on career path issues, Managers often still feel overwhelmed, too busy, unsure on how to really help, and/or exasperated.  And, despite best efforts to give Employees tools and training for managing their own career, they may feel like they have run into brick walls, they may wonder if their Manager has a hidden agenda, and oftentimes aren’t able to clearly articulate what it is they are seeking and what they need help and guidance with.

• Both Managers and Employees receive training on career path management in a group arena.
• While this lays a great foundation, it is difficult to talk about the unique, specific issues that arise with the various individuals within the Company.

The Solution:

One-on-one coaching from an independent certified Coach, Kelly Harrington, can help tailor the foundation laid out in management and performance review / goal setting training programs offered by HR and OD.  Career Path Coaching is an opportunity for any Employee to have individualized, objective, and non-threatening time and space to examine their career:

• What makes them really tick
• What unique skills and talents they have to offer
• Where their roadblocks may be
• And a plan for how to move forward to better manage their own career

The Result:

During a 1.5-hour one-on-one Career Path Coaching session, the Employee will discuss with the Coach what’s top of mind for managing his or her career.  The Employee may discuss any roadblocks they are running into and what he or she most needs help with.

Because the Employee has an opportunity to speak freely (without fear of consequence) and because the Company has invested in individualized time for him or her, the Employee can move quickly through a variety of issues and will leave the session with:

• A clear list of unique strengths, skills, passion-drivers, and areas to develop
• Thoughts and ideas on how to better manage her career path proactively
• Tips for having a more effective and powerful career path conversation with her Manager
• ‘Homework’ for continuing to research career path options that map with her strengths, unique skills, and passions
• Gratitude for the Company’s investment in their individualized development

Managers of these Employees will benefit because the Employee will be more informed, more self-aware, and more prepared to have an effective career path conversation with his or her Manager.  The Manager can use the results gained in the career path conversation as a springboard to an ongoing career path dialogue.

The Company will benefit because their High Potential Employees will be more proactively engaged and enthusiastic in managing their career, resulting in more effective Manager-Employee conversations and continued development and retention.

Career Path Coaching Case Study

The good news is that Holly* and her Manager had discussed her career path aspirations a few times.  But after a few discussions, it seemed that both of them had hit a dead-end and their conversations were ‘spinning’ a bit. So, her Manager decided she could use some more help from me, as a Career Coach, to crystallize what really makes Holly ‘tick’ and what Holly really wants to do so they could then put their best efforts forward to develop the next phase of Holly’s career.

Holly’s Manager invested some training dollars for Holly to have an hour-and-a-half career path coaching session with me, which took place over the phone. During the session, Career Coach, Kelly Harrington, asked a series of questions of Holly, allowing them to dive deep into what really drives Holly in career and in life, what unique skills and strengths she has to offer, and what her big ‘turn-offs’ are.  After some discussion, they then looked at the emerging themes and trends and discussed a variety of possible ‘next steps’ for her in her career path and development.

Holly left the career path session excited, renewed, confident, and clear. More specifically, she left our career path coaching session with:

• A clear list of unique strengths, skills, passion-drivers, and areas to develop
• Ideas on various career paths she could take
• Articulate thoughts on how to better manage her career path proactively
• Tips for having a more effective and powerful career path conversation with her Manager
• ‘Homework’ for continuing to research career path options that map with her strengths, unique skills, and passions

Feedback from Holly and her Manager was very positive. A logical next-step may be a follow-up career path coaching session with me to discuss her ‘homework’ results and conversations with her Manager to better hone her career path development.

*(Not an actual client / a summary of various Career Path Coaching sessions)

Outline and Investment:

• Each One-on-One Career Path Coaching Session will last 1.25 – 1.5 hours.
• Contact me to find out more and discuss rates. I offer a discount for packages of five or more sessions.

Career Path Coaching is a unique approach to empowering your employees to manage their own career path within your organization.  I work with individuals and groups to identify their unique skills and strengths and then translate this into an action plan that they can partner with their manager on to create continued success within your organization.

Questions?

Please contact me with any questions or for more information.  I would love the opportunity to further your investment in career path management.