Like many young professionals, Emma is struggling to sort through the labyrinth of possible career opportunities. She has important choices to make, but right now, she’s immobilized. She doesn’t know where to start.
In building a strategic growth plan, there are five essential principles everyone must first adopt.
Principle #1 Challenge assumptions
Challenge and question existing assumptions Challenging them is a mechanism for identifying new career opportunities that are not obvious. Have a willingness to explore and challenge – new issues that were once left untouched or assumed. Ever heard these?
- I need experience in this field
- There are not any open jobs
- They are only looking for engineering degrees
Exercise: As quick as you can, make a list of your assumptions about your career – pick the top 3 that are holding you back. Then ask yourself, what information do I have that proves this to be true? If you have none, then the question becomes – What do I need to know?
Open your mind –challenge your assumptions. Assumptions are the stories we tell ourselves about what we believe to be true.
Source: Think to-Win Unleashing the power of strategic thinking