Given where you’ve been recently, get ready to break out of those familiar work boundaries and get career creative! I’m really speaking to career professionals today. Where are my Career Creators!

Those of us that have decided which industry mountain we are climbing. You may be figuring out your bearings. Yes, there are ways to be a career mountaineer without getting exhausted. As you attempt to climb the career summit, there may be an inner longing for the familiar. I mean, you’ve made feats with familiar human engagements like timelessly running those weekly morning meetings, powerfully leading redundant projects, and using your solid HP team skills to accomplish the collaborative normalcy- keeping your strategic process in check.

But today you find yourself preparing for a different arduous trek. Your plan to conquer this next career feat will need a different preparation master plan with different tools + resources so you can make the right decisions to steer yourself (+ your team) on a new business path. You realize this journey can mean the difference between success and failure.

When I’m working on a new project at my production workplace or writing a new piece of content for my coaching client, I have a familiar way to plan my purposeful climb. Sometimes I start outside (literally!) to gain fresh perspective on how to tackle the specific piece of work. I become strategic for today’s tasks even when my routine to complete the puzzle is mainly the same. Why? Because it’s cozy and familiar. I admit I’m comfortable with the strengths I’ve cultivated knowing they’ve worked well thus far… I mean…Shouldn’t you feel comfortable?

Today you have to step outside the mental and technical spaces that have become familiar inclinations. Your career industry mountain has shifted. The next level of labor shifts are taking place in many sectors not directly supporting our present health crisis. Business strategies are changing every day. Shifts across industries are now putting leaders in situations where the strongest emphasis is reaching humanity in a new, meaningful and creative way. Whether its digitally or physically, you still have to decide how to navigate human resources. In intimate spaces where crowding can become an issue, human congestion is now being eliminated in order to complete positive win/win business objectives. The simple comfort zone of a crowded coffee shop where some of our best work gets done has disappeared. Now you must create and pivot to maintain your high-performance velocity flow.

What activities should you consider in order to keep your career creatively enduring? How are you going to climb and reach the successful place on your career mountain?

Here are 3 Keys to Help You Break Out of Your Comfort Zone + Creatively Reach the Peak of Your Career!

1.     Get Mentally Fit when it’s time to navigate a shift in the career landscape. Do more creative tasks that solve routine personal + workplace matters. This is the season to learn something new every one-two days. You may see your initial reaction to change fraught with anger + denial but the creative learning process will help you overcome the anxiety and any phobias you’re feeling. I get it; learning technology can cause stress, but mentally focus on the wisdom you are gaining from this process. At the end of each day, write of short list of what you’re grateful for. This important exercise will give you encouragement + the endurance to learn something new tomorrow.

Additionally, add on to a skill strength you already have. For example, if you’re known in your career circle for having strong communication skills, research a new trend in communication and integrate it into your skill set. Something as simple as learning how to use a new video communication tool will strengthen the communication skills you already have. More importantly, it will increase your career value. Practice using it; this process will help you push through anxieties of change and help you become mentally fit for the new business strategies ahead.

2.     Promptly become accustomed to a new career climate and conditions. Read and absorb as much information about your career industry and how it’s changing or shifting. You may have to do this afraid. What are the new developing best practices that you can read about + observe within your industry? Start asking the right questions. This is where your creativity can play a HUGE role in your career. Start to identify what led to the present shift in your industry. Hone in + identify the practices that led to this new industry climate or condition. Could it have been prevented or is the change you’ve been waiting for bring a better system + operation online to help you (+ your colleagues) become more successful in accomplishing the big business mission?

Once you become adjusted to the realities that there is a new climate - - you can begin to adapt + solve any gaps you’re seeing, get a better perspective, even a better attitude. Now get on board with how you need to creatively pivot your work habits.

This creative process can take weeks depending on your career pursuit and the height of the mountain. I’m sure you want your analysis observations and brainstorming to take you to a higher place. OK…get moving, flex and stretch your creative problem-solving muscles. Remember, the weather is the single most important factor when traversing any mountain. Look at the forecast of your particular industry because this is uber critical. Research, read, observe to know your climate + conditions when climbing your career mountain. Research will galvanize your critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills.

3.     Focus on a safe descent to get the goal you intend. It’s critical to have a plan. It’s surprising how many people don’t have a plan; waiting until tomorrow. Even if your plan is faulty; have one. Even the strongest plans have met their match with uncertainty. Don’t let present difficulties distract you from your long-term, even lifelong career goal(s). Sit down, review where you are + where you’re headed next. Maybe it’s time to update how you will descend the mountain. A career disaster could ensue if you’re not discerning a potential bottleneck of other climbers. And you don’t want to use up all your oxygen climbing. Leave enough oxygen (aka stamina) to maneuver your descent by having an overall creative career plan. I would suggest having no less than a 10-year plan in place at all times by age 25. By the way, I’m sure you know it’s vital to have a crisis management career plan…hmm..

A successful career doesn’t become stagnant. It has different stages and strata of growth. Flourishing careers don’t become resistant during times of disruption. You have many opportunities to creatively learn and produce something exciting and new. Allow growth to happen! Don’t miss your career growth.

Live Life knowing you can take this mountain!

© EJ Encalarde. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission, from this blog’s author and/or owner, is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to EJ Encalarde, LLC, with proper and specific direction to the original content at ejencalarde.com.