The Gains and Losses of Advancement

Key Takeaways:

• When considering an opportunity (advancement, new career path, or professional development), enlist the support of a coach to fully explore whether or not it is the best fit for you as well as how it can change your life.

• Your decision making process for new opportunities should not just be about what you will gain but also what you might lose or have to let go of in the process.

• Help manage expectations by communicating frequently with those you work with throughout the transition.

When considering an opportunity for advancement, a new career path, or professional development offerings, you are effectively drawing out a roadmap to get from Point A (status quo) to Point B (where you want to be). Anyone can visualize a blank map with a line connecting two points, but in order to fill out this map in detail you will need a lot more information.

In this scenario, many people will naturally prioritize getting there and funding. Knowing what you want and how you will pay for it is important, but these are basic questions that don’t guarantee results.

It is in phases of transition such as this one where many people begin to consider the benefits of coaching. Having a coach by your side to provide support not only throughout the journey but also before it even begins can help you to manage expectations - including your own - while feeling more confident and prepared to take a  leap. 

At the same time, a journey involving your future success is about so much more than the trip itself. An important question to consider when approaching any opportunity for advancement or professional development is: how will you be changed by this experience? Rest assured that while new opportunities come with many gains, they also come with undeniable losses.

For example, you will likely return from your experience renewed, emboldened, and in possession of a useful new skill, but how will you be received by your coworkers and supervisor(s) upon returning to the workplace? Will your newfound energy be met with complacency and an unwillingness to change? Will you feel less invested and ready to move on to new opportunities? Will you possess a new way of thinking and speaking that feels out of place? 

The phrase “it’s lonely at the top” refers to the isolation that can accompany career growth and development, which can include starting over. When I left the corporate world after 17 years, I was excited to work for myself doing something I loved: helping people improve their personal and professional lives through training and coaching. What I didn’t anticipate was the loneliness I’d sometimes feel as a then-solopreneur, or  the need to let go of who I was in order to create space for who I was becoming. 

Expanding personally and / or  professionally ultimately means saying goodbye to the status quo - which is a comfortable but crowded place.

One way to mitigate some of these growth pains is to plan ahead with your teammates, coworkers, and supervisors, communicating frequently to ensure they understand what you are going to be learning and how it will be applied in the workplace. Another strategy is to work with a third-party coach. This way you get critical support from someone who is unbiased yet fully invested in your personal growth and success. 

While seeking fulfillment does not guarantee that you will feel fulfilled, managing expectations, building trust, and connecting with those further down the path will ensure you are not only heard, seen, and understood, but better prepared for whatever may come - the highs, the lows, and everything in between. 

Life is a journey. It may not always be a smooth ride, but with the right mentorship, well-being strategies and tools, it is possible to achieve the desired results without losing total faith in the process.