Whether you’re working in Extension, education, the non-profit or government sector, or private business, mid-career can bring exciting professional development and growth, as well as great internal worry and doubt… often at the same time.
At mid-career, we begin to trust ourselves (having been around long enough to learn a few things), but we can also have lingering existential questions about whether we’re really on the right path, or if our management and leadership and communication skill sets are as good as we’d hoped at this point. If you’re feeling any of these concerns, good. It’s a sign of humility which, according to the literature, is a key trait for great leadership.
That humility can also spur your intrinsic motivation to dig in and learn. This again is a good thing. In fact, I contend it’s necessary for anyone who wants to move (as Jim Collins outlined) from good to great.
Regardless of age or career stage, I hope you had a chance to read the six (6) prior “early career” blog posts that covered topics such as who you are, how you want to be remembered, what values you hold highest, and your personal mission. These items are foundational for anyone wishing to achieve personal and professional growth.
In this series, we’ll dive into ideas that can help anyone in the mid- (or even late-) career range. Most of these posts are extracts from my 2024 book, The Encouraging Mentor: Your Guide to 40 Conversations that Matter. This is a how-to manual for mentors, teachers, coaches, and anyone interested in becoming a better mentor, but the questions also work well for self-reflection. Other materials (the “40 Conversations'') and new video briefs are being posted for free on the website: http://encouragingmentor.com. There are also about 25 free e-book codes still available for educators or nonprofit professionals. When visiting the website, click on the “Free Stuff” tab.
Here are the 7 forthcoming blog posts. Watch for the postings on Tuesdays.
- Mid-career prep: Assess where you are. Plan your future.
- Time vs. Energy: Which will you manage?
- Opportunity vs. Meaning: Which will you pursue?
- Volition: What are your choices?
- Gratitude: Can making a list improve your career?
- Curiosity: The new currency
- Appreciation & Love: What language do you speak?
About the author: Professor Brian Raison (raison.1@osu.edu) offers this blog series with suggestions on how you can clarify your purpose, advance your career, and create the future you envision. His materials are extracted from graduate courses he teaches at The Ohio State University, as well as current research and practice. The approach is grounded in nonformal mentoring, which parallels nonformal education and adult learning theories. Each post will feature question prompts to help you grow personally and professionally, regardless of your age or career stage.
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