How Can You Stay Committed While Looking Over Your Career Horizon?

A nonprofit leader I coach recently started as the CEO of an organization that’s a significant step up in budget, staff and size from the charity she was with prior.  From the outside, this new job might look like a random opportunity that presented itself at the right moment.  It happens.  The truth is; however, that her applying for, being offered and accepting this role was so much more.  It was the culmination of a well thought out approach to to thriving in her prior role, building out the organization and it’s team (both staff and board) all while keeping an eye on the next ideal step in her career progression.

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I’m highlighting the above as leaders often want to be coached on how to strike that delicate balance between serving at a high level in a current role while being mindful of what’s next.  Since I believe this leader did such a masterful job of this, I wanted to share the best practices she utilized.  If you find yourself  in this inquiry, hopefully these suggestions will be helpful and support you in your career journey.  


First off, the leader I’m referring to truly models intention, integrity and clear direction.  When we first started our coaching work together, the first thing she wanted to focus on was helping her  team grow and develop professionally.  No agenda about her whatsoever - just a pure commitment to seeing the team she worked with be better and create results more effectively.  

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Ultimately, my client continued to make solid contributions toward the growth of her organization while casting an eye over the horizon.  This is an art form: staying committed while having an inner knowing that it’s time to start thinking beyond the now. She achieved this by doing the following:

• Building a stronger team:  As noted, she focused on developing the team around her for their benefit and in service to the organization itself.  For example, one member of her team was content to play a supporting role and had little interest in stepping into a leadership role.  My client met her employee where he was at, gave him opportunities to shine, learn from other leaders and see the joy in helping others develop.  For another staff member, she created opportunities for them to learn new marketable skills.   Bottom line, my client made each member of her team better while creating a viable succession plan for that “whenever” moment. 

 

• Patiently developing the board:  When we began our work together, board engagement was a significant struggle and my client was laser-focused on changing that.  This leader’s persistence, patience and commitment to the ongoing development of her board was key to the continued success of her organization and her attractiveness as a candidate to future employers.  She was willing to experiment, risk failure and truly lead.  This approach developed the board into a group of leaders that, while disappointed with her departure, are equally committed to taking a proactive role in continuing the important work they’ve been doing together.

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• Developing thought leadership:  Early on in our engagement, my client shared that she wanted to give back to her profession and share what she was learning.  She developed a daily practice of writing and eventually had several articles published in professional journals.  In addition, she volunteered for a leadership role within her professional organization.  Participating and contributing at this level enabled her to establish long-term relationships with colleagues, network both inside and outside of her sector and develop an even deeper level of service.  The beautiful byproduct is that she is now looked at as a thought leader in her field.  

 

• Having the will to act:  This leader had the courage and willingness to act when the opportunity presents itself.  As she shared with me recently, the hardest thing about putting all the work in to be ready is that it makes the current position much more comfortable when the better opportunity presents itself. The leader must be ready and willing to act when the time is right.

 

• Staying fully grounded in the present while looking over the horizon: Yes, I hear you...This is much easier said than done.  I won’t take the easy way out and say it’s the “secret sauce.”  There are however a few opportunities to look at here.  However, the one intangible demonstrated by this leader - and others that create this type of success story - is a mindset of service.   This starts with asking the question every day:  What can I share today that will truly be of service?  ​​When this is your authentic mindset, it’s hard to NOT manifest good things for those you serve as well as opportunities for you to move forward.  

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