Sometimes the next step begins with a conversation.
Last month, I wrote about a question that comes up frequently in coaching: Where am I going?
We explored the idea that you don’t have to know exactly where you’re going to begin getting curious about your career.
Maybe something has caught your attention. A position, a project, an industry, a leadership opportunity, or a completely different direction.
So, now what?
Here’s another question I like to explore with clients:
who can help me learn about it?
we don’t have to figure everything out ourselves.
Think about the people you’ve met throughout your career.
Former colleagues. Managers. Classmates. Clients. Neighbors. Friends. People you’ve worked alongside, learned from, or simply enjoyed getting to know.
That’s quite a collection of experiences, perspectives, and knowledge!
And chances are, you’ve been a resource for many of those people, too.
Sometimes we forget that the relationships we’ve built over the years are part of our professional lives, even when we aren’t actively looking for a job or trying to make a career change.
We tend to call this networking.
And that word can make something very natural sound like a lot of work.
what if we started with curiosity? “who” asks the owl.
I work with clients who are exploring new careers, preparing for interviews, considering promotions, developing their leadership skills, and navigating changes within their organizations.
One of the things we often explore is who might help them learn more.
Not necessarily who can get them a job.
But who has experience they might find interesting?
Who understands an organization or industry they’re curious about?
Who has navigated a leadership challenge similar to one they’re experiencing?
Who might offer a perspective they haven’t considered?
Sometimes it’s someone they already know.
Sometimes it’s someone they haven’t spoken with in years.
And sometimes it’s a person they’ve never met.
The conversation doesn’t have to begin with a request for help. It can begin with a genuine interest in learning about another person’s experience.
conversations can take us somewhere unexpected.
One of the things I enjoy about coaching is watching people recognize how much they already know—and how many possibilities they have yet to explore.
A conversation with a former colleague might introduce an interesting organization.
A discussion with a manager might uncover an opportunity to contribute in a new way.
A conversation with someone in another industry might help you understand what their work actually involves.
You might discover something that excites you.
You might discover that something you thought you wanted isn’t quite what you imagined.
Both are valuable discoveries.
And you may find that the person you’re talking with is just as interested in learning from you.
Relationships don’t have to be one-directional. We all have experiences, ideas, and perspectives worth sharing.
a little celebration invitation for october
In August, I invited you to make some space for what’s possible.
In September, we explored what might be getting your attention.
This month, I’d like to offer another small suggestion for you to consider.
Think about something you’re curious about in your career or work.
It might be a new opportunity, a leadership challenge, a skill you’d like to develop, a spark of an idea, or simply a different way of approaching something you’re already doing.
Now ask yourself:
Who could help me learn a little more about it?
Maybe you’ll send a message.
Maybe you’ll invite someone for coffee.
Maybe you’ll ask a question during your next conversation.
Or maybe you’ll simply remember someone you’d enjoy reconnecting with.
There’s no single right way to begin. Just begin.
And you don’t need to know where the conversation will lead, just follow the hoot from the owl and start with “who?”