Prioritizing career intentions over goals
Focus the efforts on what's important.
This post is partly inspired by my conversation with my coach from some time ago. I reached out to him to help me understand how to get the promotion I had been aiming for. The goal to get promoted had come up so many times in my conversations with him, that at some point, he did what all great coaches do; he paused and asked me a straightforward but thought-provoking question: "What if you don't get that promotion ever?" I remember I was shocked by the realness of that question because I was so hard on myself for a year to excel in everything I was doing; it never crossed my mind that actually, no matter what I do, the promotion may not follow. I internalized the whole promotion process and focused solely on delivering outstanding results, taking on more work, and showing up more than my role demanded. That simple question changed so much in me, in how I look into my career and work life. I decided to hold myself accountable for my long-term vision and never let wins and losses in the short term dictate my self-confidence and worth.
What follows in this post is what I came up with for myself, and if you experience something similar, this may be useful for you, too.
That question changed my approach to career planning entirely. Suddenly, I started seeing that particular promotion in the grand scheme. I understood that I over-exaggerated its importance in my long-term career.
The full disclaimer is that promotions are great; they reflect the augmented value we create for the company and give us more financial freedom and opportunities.
However, I overemphasized that getting promoted would change my career trajectory, and I could advance my career because of that promotion. The reality is that the only factor that can help my career advancement is me. Yes, it is simple and yet complex to accept. It is me; it has always been me, not a title, a promotion, a company name, or a salary range. I am the builder of the ship, the captain and the crew. I am the only constant in this. I need to own it.
I needed to understand my power, strengths, and what I bring to the table. People have many ways to test your knowledge and seniority in the interview process; they don't hire people solely because they hold a specific title. What is more important is that you have the right experience, the right skills, and the right personality.
This brought me to the idea of setting intentions over short-term goals.
When asked about my career goals, I prefer to say that I don't have strictly defined goals; I have intentions, and I hope this particular opportunity helps me accomplish some of those intentions or brings me closer to them.
Intentions over goals
Intention doesn't have the constraints of a goal to accomplish something in a specific time frame. Intention helps plan for the long run, giving myself room and flexibility for detours, experiments, and why, not for adventures and mistakes. However, while intention setting might seem strictly cerebral or spiritual, there are practical elements to it as well. And those elements make all the difference.
Direction and focus: Establishing career intentions offers a clear sense of direction and helps focus the efforts on what's important. It allows you to prioritize your goals and align your actions towards achieving them, preventing you from getting sidetracked by less relevant opportunities. If you ask yourself: will this matter in 1 year, 2 years, 10 years? Suddenly, many minor setbacks lose their exaggerated importance for you, and you see things more clearly; you understand what is essential for you and what you need to let go.
Motivation and engagement: Clear career intentions can significantly boost motivation and engagement. When you know what you're working towards, it's easier to stay committed and put in the effort required to reach your destination. This can lead to more satisfaction and fulfillment in your career. In Simon Sinek's words, know your why. Everything falls into place when we understand why we do what we do.
Skill development and growth: Setting career intentions encourages continuous learning and skill development. First, list the skills and knowledge you need to master to achieve your career intentions. This will prompt you to seek educational opportunities, training, and on-the-job experiences facilitating personal and professional growth. Value experiences for the knowledge, experience and skills they provide, not just immediate short-term outcomes. Accept that career progression is often non-linear, and opportunities will come (again). Read my post on change and learning here.
Career advancement and opportunities: Clearly defined career intentions can open up new possibilities. They make it easier for you to identify and seize opportunities that align with your long-term goals, whether taking on new projects, pursuing promotions, or exploring new career paths. Additionally, well-defined intentions can help you channel clarity and purpose into potential job opportunities.
There are many ways you can approach intention-setting for your career. It can be about so many things:
Pursuing executive career track
Experiencing career stability
Achieving financial freedom
Becoming a thought leader, earning industry recognition
Becoming an expert in something
Driving innovation and creativity
Pursuing lifelong learning
Building a successful career as an independent contributor, etc.
It can be broad enough; you don't have to plan for all the details; it is just about having the big picture to know where you are going and why. It is your vision for your future. We can't plan our careers without our personal lives. One affects the other, so the larger vision can include both. My vision includes many details that are outside my career. It consists of the languages I want to learn, the places I like to travel, the people I want to keep in my life forever, and my physical and health goals. It is very intimate; it's a solitary experience to build a vision for yourself; you don't have to share your vision with everyone or even in interviews; just give high-level hints for the interviewer to understand how the role and your vision interconnect, which is enough.
I am rooted, but I flow. Virginia Woolf
In a career context, I am rooted in my values, strengths, and what I bring. But I also flow because life happens, and nothing goes exactly as planned in life and career.
Long-term mindset
Each of us has our own story, which is highly individual and personal. Our careers are affected by everything internal and external; they can only be partially organized and controlled. Our careers can't be identical either; there is no one best practice applicable to a line of work. Each company, country, and industry will require you to do something differently, which changes your career as a result, too.
Long-term intention setting helps us keep things flexible so we don't crush under stress and harsh reality; instead, we use our focus to get back on track and continue working on our vision.