By Jim Citrin & Rick Smith
August 2004
Failure’s hard, but success is far more dangerous. If you’re successful at the wrong thing, the mix of praise and money and opportunity can lock you in forever. - Po Bronson
When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece. - John Ruskin
Finding the right fit is the most differentiating of the five patterns of extraordinary executives. Extraordinary executives lead careers that use both their strengths and passions more than six times as often as average employees. The implications of these findings are profound: not only is it possible to combine your strengths and passions in the same job, success demands it.
So near, yet so far
Finding your strengths, passions and cultural fit will mean you are happier and more successful in your career.
Given the clear cut nature of this principle, it is incredible to note that only nine percent of executives surveyed believe they are in jobs in which they are performing activities they are passionate about in an environment and with people whom they like and respect.
Career push vs. pull
A common approach to career management is the career push. This entails pushing your way up a ladder, climbing from one step to the next and the next and so on.
There is, however, a more effective way – allowing your preferences in terms of strengths, passions and people to pull your career steadily along in a better direction.
Using the career pull approach means allowing your career to migrate, often gradually, towards the activities, roles and environments you know from experience that you prefer and are most passionate about.
It requires clear reflection and in some cases making difficult choices like going against current promotions of turning down jobs others would envy. It means taking the long view when managing your career and thoroughly assessing the various career alternatives afforded to you.
Four strategies
Finding the right fit is not easily accomplished but there are four strategies which can help you get closer to the mark:
- Macromanage your career
- Create career options
- Watch for career flares
- Work with the right people
When you consider that work takes up around two thirds of our waking lives it is worth finding the right fit and working with the right people so that, with a little bit of patience and a little bit of luck, you attain true satisfaction.
This extract is taken from The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers by James M. Citrin and Richard A. Smith, published by Random House.
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