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The Great Resignation is all of the rage these days. And for good reason given its seismic impact on today’s jobs economy.
Scores of Americans view this pandemic-fueled trend as an opportunity to reconsider their career path, often with an eye on better paying, more fulfilling remote opportunities. A crucial first step in making a career shift is to do a deep dive into your current situation, using it as an accelerant for exploring what’s next.
Asked for her thoughts about the report, Steele had this to say:
“What Workers Want is the second annual State of Work and Career Success survey that I began in 2020 because of questions I was personally seeking answers to like, what does it take to be successful in the new world of work? Or what holds us back as individuals (not employees) from reaching our goals?”
The ultimate intent of the report, she says, is to establish an ongoing way to assess the pulse of individuals in the workforce while tracking their progress towards achieving their work and life goals over time. Questions like, “do they feel like they have been successful in achieving their goals at this stage of their life or not? And how does this translate to organizational success?” She adds:
“At the highest level, we’ve found that people are generally not happy with where they are. Whether it's the progress they're making, the position that they're in, how meaningful the work feels, or the compensation for that position, less than half of the people we surveyed are satisfied.”
That negative sentiment, says Steele, is subsequently impacting the likelihood of people staying at their current job, recommending the organization they currently work for, or even engaging while at work.
“We think this highlights why so many are choosing to make a change in their careers during the pandemic. The priorities of workers have changed, even more so after the pandemic, yet many organizations are still stuck in a 20th-century mindset.they’re hemorrhaging talent as a result.”
Asked to share what she found to be the most surprising finding from her “What Workers Want: The State of Work and Career Success” report, Steele had this to say:
“I was surprised at the degree to which U.S. workers are struggling to make the progress they want in their career. They are frequently grading themselves a “low C” on average relative to this factor. On top of that, we found that respondents in their 50s were the most likely to identify doing meaningful work as a top priority. Yet they are the least satisfied age group surveyed when it comes to their current progress in achieving their goals.”
Steele says that while respondents graded themselves lowest on planning their career path, career planning is the most important factor contributing to career success. The silver lining here, she says, is that there are a lot of opportunities to improve noting “we know the one thing that anyone can do is make big improvements.”
In terms of significant trends that are informing today’s world of work, Steele offers these three:
“The priorities of workers (AKA people) are shifting. It’s not just about money — it’s about money AND meaning. When asked to rank the priorities that are most important in their career, the three highest priorities were earning a steady income, doing work that is meaningful, and being in a field where they can channel their passion.”
“Work, career, and life are no longer siloed and separate. In fact, 62% agree that work and career are already integrated in their personal life. Moreover, 52% agree that their professional ambition isn’t tied to being part of a company. And among those who are highly successful, 71% expressed this sentiment.”
“People are not willing to conform to ‘what they’re supposed to do’ and follow a traditional, linear career path anymore. People have a strong desire for individuality and expression, and their work and life are already integrated, so they’re seeking it in every area of their life.”
Steele adds that although many have expressed a shift in priorities, they are clearly struggling to achieve what they want in their life.
“The first step is just to look inward and get clarity on what you really want — not what you were told you want or what other people want, but what makes you feel happy and fulfilled — and then you have to make a strategic plan. Unfortunately, there is no white label solution to reaching your highest potential. It’s going to look different for everyone.”
In terms of how her book Building the Business of You speaks to these findings, Steele states:
“Both my book “Building the Business of You” and this research were born out of my desire to help people create a life and career that allows them to achieve their highest potential and identify what fits them best. In the “What Workers Want,” report we identified six factors that contribute to career success (planning, culture, skills, experience, education, and staying current). Of these, planning has the greatest impact on career success.”
She concludes:
“I wrote ‘Building the Business of You’ to help people identify the destination they want to get to and develop their own roadmap to get there. It offers a specific action plan that people can follow, as well as stories that I hope offer some support and guidance along the way.”
