Journal Article
One of the most pressing questions in the mid-career professional's mind today is 'Am I doing what is right for me, or should I change direction?' Most people attempting a career change often follow conventional, reasonable-sounding methods. However, the author argues that the conventional wisdom on how to change careers is in fact a prescription for how to stay put.
Her in-depth research found that many people trying a conventional approach, including self-reflection, consulting trusted advisors, and thinking big, languish for months, if not years. Instead, she suggests a different tack, one she calls the practice of 'working identity.'
The phrase 'working identity' carries two meanings: (1) our sense of self in our professional roles, what we convey about ourselves to others and, ultimately, how we live our working lives, and (2) denotes action--a process of applying effort to shape that identity.
The alternative approach the author proposes is called the 'test and learn' model of change and consists of three common practices: crafting experiments, shifting connections, and making sense.
