By Valerie Martinelli, MPA – Leadership, Life, & Career Coach/ HR & Management Consultant
This is the conclusion to Val’s two part article on unlocking opportunities to authentic and powerful leadership. Part 1 can be found HERE.
Your Career = Your Identity?
Another facet of owning who you are requires you to not only be comfortable in who you are but what you do. Our society is known for judging people by their career. Another reason why women hold themselves back is because they already feel inadequate. If you hate your job and are feeling stuck, it is difficult to own who you are because you are dissatisfied with it. Others may be aware of their capabilities and talents and are still afraid or unsure of what they can do with them. Either way, coaching is beneficial because it allows to get unstuck and empowers you to let go of your fears while holding you accountable.
To own it, you must also acknowledge your actions and commit yourself to the process, whether that is finding a new job, going back to school, pursuing a leadership position, or what have you. If you are not fully committed to the process, then you are not expressing who you are in the process or who you can become once you complete it. Sure, making a big life and/ or career change is scary but we must believe in ourselves. Once we do, others are afforded the opportunity to understand our talents and gifts. We need to embrace our passions, our calling, and accept who we are. While coaching is beneficial, no one can fully teach us these things because they need to come from deep within. Fulfillment will follow suit and requires embracing who we are and owning it.
Embrace who you are and what your gifts and talents are. When we refuse to welcome our callings, we tend to flounder. I work with women to find their confidence and courage. By doing so, you can stand up and claim your identity in this world. It might sound scary at first but this is a process that is well worth it in the end because you will be more confident. It might sound risky but by setting the standards for who you are, you are setting the bar for what kind of job you will do each day can be exhilarating. You will not find success by pouring your time, money, or energy into replicating someone else’s experience. There is nothing worse than trying to base your purpose from a template of someone else’s experience. Be bold and forge your own path!
Learn how you can work with Valerie Martinelli at http://askvmc.com. Valerie is available to consult and develop innovative employee career coaching programs for your organization. She also offers exclusive one-on-one coaching for women who want to be more confident and strategic in their careers.
________________________
Valerie Martinelli, MPA is the CEO & Owner of Valerie Martinelli Consulting, LLC and Founder of Innovate 50/50. Connect with Val on Twitter @AskVMC or via website askVMC.com.
