Career crossroads: How to make confident decisions for the future

Having uncertainty in our work can be one of the most overwhelming and lonely chapters. After all, we don’t get handed a career map. We need to pick the route that we think most suits our skills, and the path we think takes us to the most promising illuminating work world. This is inevitably more arduous than we expect. We must plot our way around the forks in the road, many of which are out of our control. Not only this, but we’re surrounded by peers that we don’t pick, not the close comfort of those we’d prefer. 

For those early on in their work lives it can feel nerve-jangling at least and incredibly overwhelming when crossroads present. And later in life, the rudder-less sense of fear can heighten to something far more terrifying. The epic real-life risks of ‘getting it wrong’ may involve mis-payments on mortgages, letting down dependents and feelings of failure may often amplify into the wider realm of our existence.

So, what is a career crossroads?

It’s a point in our lives, where either tangibly or intangibly we are faced with important decisions to make about our professional direction. Tangibly may result from the end of a contract, a termination or redundancy. Intangibly may be driven by a sense of dissatisfaction, feelings of being unsettled, unfulfilled or unhappy. The first is typically more urgent because our livelihoods often depend on us making choices and acting fast. But the latter may be equally as unsettling as it can slowly and painfully erode our happiness, bringing with it reduced self-esteem and weighty sadness.

What are confident decisions?

Confident decisions feel aligned. When we make the right decision, we have faith in our choices and trust that we are heading in a positive direction. We feel comfortable and at ease when we revisit our answers. Confidence at its finest feels value-aligned, purposeful and full of hope and buoyancy for the future we get to design.

Confident decisions are not the same as finding perfect solutions. In fact, things get much easier when we realise that perfection is not the goal and is certainly an impossible bar to maintain. Looking for perfect answers can lead us to a point of inertia and perpetual dissatisfaction. Beware of the need for immaculate perfection.

Five top tips when making decisions for your future

1. Measure against meaningful variables

It’s critical that you find the variables that matter at these important crossroads in your life. Take time to understand what those are. Perhaps you need to look for a path that offers security, peace and routine, or you may be ready to embark on a role or route that offers growth, challenge and risk. So, look at the options presented and find evidence to support or dismiss each variable in your world. Be rigorous in your approach and you’ll soon formulate evidence-based arguments to support or reject the options around you. 

2. Tap into both thoughts and feelings

Thoughts are a powerful indicator and hugely valuable in helping us make decisions. However, thoughts are loaded with our experiences from the past and the beliefs we’ve accrued throughout our lives. This includes the weighting of our own doubts and fears. Don’t be afraid to challenge your thoughts and ensure that you don’t become blinded by their games to hold you back and keep you safe. A powerful way to check in is to ask yourself how you feel. Feelings usually have one or two-word answers. You may feel excited, afraid, nervous or hopeful when you run through your options. Explore these feelings and ask what they tell you before you commit to the runaway train of your thoughts.

3. Accept that growth is uncomfortable

If it’s growth or change or experience and adventure that you are looking for in your life, accept that it may involve discomfort. A new role, qualification, direction and path must involve a degree or re-learning, of movement or meeting others and various feelings of discomfort. This is perfectly normal and as awkward and painful as that feels, don’t let discomfort be a reason to stay the same. Ask yourself instead ‘What discomfort is worth it?’ and see where that wisdom leads you.

4. Ask your future self for some guidance

Be sure to sense-check what matters in the long run, where you want to be and what you want to look back on. Imagine your 80-year-old safe looking at your square in the eye right now. What do they want to see and hear from you in this very moment? Play with the conversation, imagine their response and honour the ‘you’ that you want to become in the actions and choices that you make in the here and now.

5. Find your own truth

As valuable as having points of view from others may be, the final truth about what is right must be driven by you. Serving others is admirable and precious, but your life choices need to offer you peace and hope in your heart. The longest-serving relationship you’ll ever have is with the person reading these words. Honour that dear soul and live your truest life for you and your potential self.

A final word from me. If you are at a crossroads, before you go any further, please applaud yourself. Take a moment to consider that some people don’t ever stop to see the fork in the road or the chink in the journey. They keep on trudging, without raising their heads up to challenge what could happen or might be available in their future. Be proud of yourself, congratulate your own self-awareness and relish and enjoy the fact you are in the power seat of an exciting future with options and opportunities for you to embark upon and conquer.