Define & Quantify Your Values
In recently launching RAKU, my goal has been to build a unique coaching business rooted in leadership integrity to support the growth of others through discovering what they value at their core and integrating this into their professional life. In short, RAKU serves as the change agent to inspire and galvanize career transformation.
RAKU leverages coaching best practices and offers professional development services to those in their mid-career to advance careers and support those embarking on a professional transition or new venture. What has been unique about launching RAKU are the market conditions and the emotional sentiment individuals currently possess when reflecting on their careers.
Currently, we are all adrift on the waves of this pandemic and the business landscape continues to shift at a rapid pace. These conditions have led to the acceleration of cloud-based technology, the popularity of the distributed workplace, and of course, more openness and interest in remote work. A further trend, dubbed "The Great Resignation," has resulted in over 4 million Americans quit their jobs in July alone. Further, those in mid-career (ages 30 - 45) are the fastest-growing resignations segment and represent an increase of more than 20% between 2020-2021. The rationale depicted in the media is that employees desire to find more "fulfilling work."
To do so, I boil this down to one word. Values.
In working with my clients as a coach, I believe that our work together is about the whole self. We may focus on smaller agendas, such as crafting a positioning statement about one's career arch or weigh opportunities and define the path to find more fulfillment and do meaningful work. However, the most important work we do together is to identify the values which are the foundation to finding fulfillment and can act as the compass for this journey.
As a former product leader, I believe wholeheartedly in making data-driven decisions and bring some of these methodologies to my coaching practice. You may ask, how does value clarity and being data-driven work together?
Data comes into play in a career transition in multiple ways. The most obvious, of course, is compensation. Although, as the saying goes, "money isn't everything." I would argue it may be one of the less critical data points when evaluating the kind of company to pursue, the best-fit role, and the team culture within which one will thrive.
As a coach, I work as your partner to uncover these values and develop guiding principles. I hold you accountable for being true to yourself and provide a set of tools to support data-driven decision-making even when numbers may feel intangible or soft-skill values are difficult to quantify. Thus far, I have seen my clients blossom due to the new clarity of what they most value, brought out by our engagement and the RAKU exercises and tools provided.
Their growth continues by gaining a deeper understanding of their urge to transition. We then establish clear criteria against which companies and roles can be evaluated to efficiently prioritize which opportunities to explore and interviews to accept. Lastly, my clients have developed a newfound confidence and have dared to turn down offers when they were not well suited to their values – regardless of compensation.
Are you feeling the itch to resign? Do you feel under-appreciated or "unfulfilled" in your current role? I would love to partner with you to uncover your values and support you with the tools to make the best decisions in synchronicity with your values and without haste.
Don't hesitate to get in touch with me for more information on how we can get started.