"You can’t make your choices on the basis of a fifty-year projection. You have to be guided by your belief that this is the best course for you for NOW, and if in five or ten years your priorities change, well, if you’re a resourceful person, you can figure out how to adapt" Peter Guralnick New Year New Goals...Please NOAs the New Year approaches, we start reflecting on new beginnings, considering new hopes for the future and most commonly thinking about new goals... Many of us have written goals before and for some reason you may be thinking that for this year you don’t want to write goals. I have worked with clients who do not see value in writing goals. You agree and that is why you are reading this. I am certain that you have good reasons for not wanting to write goals. It could be that you tried it before and it did not work. Or you felt frustrated when you could not attain a particular goal. More possibly still, you wrote a goal and had to change it for what felt like a million times. Do Not Write GoalsHere is an idea! How would you feel if I told you to forget about writing goals? For now...anyway. Instead, I invite you to think about your favorite memories.
The idea behind these questions at this point is to focus on positive experiences and how they made you feel. I ask myself these questions on a regular basis. The answers help me stay focused and of course, see value in creating and pursuing new goals. What Makes You HappyWhen I ask these and other questions that help clients reflect on what makes them happy, some clients are very clear on what they want, on the things that will make them happy and they can be very specific when thinking of achievements. Other clients find it hard to answer these questions. I explain my reasons behind this line of questioning. The most important reasons are:
ReflectHere are some suggestions to facilitate reflection on the three questions.
Life gets in the way and we tend to forget what is important to us. I started asking myself these questions many years ago. Looking back, it now seems that I have been building on them year after year. One of my dreams and accomplishments included receiving a doctorate degree. Goals You Have AccomplishedI have completed my degree and oh what a feeling that was! As I worked for that goal, the journey was tough and there were times when I was ready to quit. Having goals and keeping my eye on the dream kept me going. The light at the end of the tunnel helped me persist in handling the constant revisions of my thesis and persevere in focusing on the smaller goals. In the process, I remembered that I really enjoyed going to school and university. The tests I passed and the positive reviews were the little lights that made the journey fulfilling. I discovered that I am a lifelong learner. I continue to cherish and honor this value by learning and researching. Reflect - What Makes You HappyI invite you today to take a break from writing your goals and focus on what specifically makes you happy.
Be as detailed as you can! Let me know how that goes and we can work on the next set of questions.
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Stay true to yourself, yet always be open to learn, a quote by P. Sweet “So, how do I prepare for jobs of the future?” This is a question that is understandably on the minds of many young people. Soft SkillsResearchers, educators, and politicians are trying to guess and prepare for what the future may bring. Their focus remains on the fourth industrial revolution and with it the technological innovations in fields such as artificial intelligence, 3D technology, nanotechnology, and innovation biology. And while they are mostly guessing what type of technological skills could possibly be needed, they are certain about the importance of what they like to call Soft Skills. No Clear DefinitionThe problem with soft skills is that neither the definition nor the label is clearly stated. Some define soft skills as people skills such as, communication and interpersonal skills. Others believe that they are professional skills such as, leadership or mentorship. And others call them transferable skills highlighting the importance of teamwork and adaptability. You may also find them defined as self-management skills, such as developing a growth mindset or building resilience. Skills for SuccessGovernment of Canada proposed the Skills for Success model which focuses on “skills needed for work, learning and life”. According to the Government of Canada website, these Skills for Success are the nine skills employers are looking for:
Social-Emotional SkillsRather than calling them soft skills, another label is suggested for communication, collaboration, adaptability and creativity and innovation, namely, Social Emotional Skills. The good news is that research is showing that with a little bit of focus and hard work, we all can develop these skills. So there is no need for you to worry if you feel that you may be underperforming in these skills What's My Definition Of Soft Skills?In case you are curious, my definition of soft skills incorporates all the stated views. I have yet to write a clear definition and a definite label. Regardless of the label, everyone agrees that soft skills (I choose to use this label for now) are the skills that you need to succeed in any career, now and in the future. Whether you are a chef, a mechanical engineer, or a family physician, soft skills will help you navigate your day to day challenges. Utilizing Soft SkillsA chef, for example, will need communication skills to be able to communicate his recipes to others. He will need leadership skills to lead his partners or employees in the kitchen. She will need to adapt to deal with any problems that may arise in her kitchen. And finally, he or she will need to keep revisiting the recipes in order to stay competitive and successful. The Future Is NowLooking into the future, you know you need to prepare yourself for a career that is unstable. A career that will require you to move from one position to the next as new skills are required. A career that you have to manage yourself, because no one has experienced it before. And most importantly, a career that reflects a challenge and purpose of your choice. Developing and strengthening your soft skills will get you ready. Take Charge Or Go With The FlowYou may choose to ignore all of the above and go with the flow. I see nothing wrong with this choice, as long as you are content to wait and adapt to the new changes as they come along. All things considered, if you are happy, then you are probably doing what needs to be done. Another option would be for you to reflect, take charge of your future and create your own pathway. My AdviceTo me, the choice is clear! Be your own agent for personal development by committing to lifelong learning as well as a lifetime of reflecting on your personal value and the particular challenges you choose. You will be glad you did!
It actually starts with us understanding what makes us happy - Dr Ingo Rauth Looking for a tool that helps you find out what makes you happy? I Have a Question for YouWhen was the last time you checked in on your BEAVI©? It is crucial that you review your BEAVI© once a year if not more often. What Does BEAVI© Stand for?It is an acronym I came up with for an assessment tool I use with my clients. Feel free to play around with the words and create your own acronym. What’s the tool’s name? Discover your BEAVI© The acronym and tool facilitate reflection on what makes you happy, what gives you meaning and what motivates you to act i.e., the thing that prompts you to get up and elevates your energy to start doing stuff. BEAVI is an acronym for: B - Beliefs E - Experiences A - Abilities/Skills V - Values I - Interests How Do I Use it?With my support and assistance clients proceed to unravel the value of these five factors through powerful inquisitive questioning and exercises that raise awareness, stimulate reflection, and provide in-depth insight into my clients’ BEAVI©. A Discover your BEAVI© result underscores each client’s unique repertoire. The assessment tool is very simple and its power lies in its simplicity. Clients are allowed to use technology to fill it up if they choose. However, I encourage clients to try it as is initially and only use technology as a last resort. This is because I believe that relying on technology may take away the opportunity to be introspective when reflecting on your BEAVI©. Here is what the chart looks like. I urge you to print it and fill it up on your own. Career Self-Assessment - Chart Discover your Beavi© Answer the Following Questions Self-assessment plays an important role in helping you discover what is most important to you. Your task is to focus on what you can do and choose the category that you think is a best fit. As you explore your self-assessment chart, think about your everyday behaviour. The questions below are provided to help you create your chart. There is no right or wrong answer. You do not need to answer the questions, they are provided to help you fill the chart.
Let's GoTry it out, find your BEAVI© and get started in understanding what make you happy.
I look forward to your feedback! Connect with me if you have any questions or concerns. |
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