The definition of being adrift is “floating without being moored or steered; without purpose or guidance; lost and confused.”

Could this be you and your current career? Maybe it’s time for a personal gut check to see if you are on a path with clarity and purpose, or if you are drifting along, unmoored (yes, continuing the maritime metaphor). Ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you enthusiastic about your work?
• When you reflect on your day at work, do you feel a sense of satisfaction?
• Is the person you are at work the same as the person you are outside of work?

If you answered ‘no,’ to 2 or more of these, take heart – there could be many reasons why you are off track. It could be a series of small decisions and somehow your career has turned into “just a job.” Or maybe you stopped being intentional about your choices, and then momentum – and complacency – took over. Or maybe you were never on a clear course from the beginning.

Whatever the reason, it’s never too late to take stock and think about your own goals. We recommend creating a personal leadership development plan. Giving your performance an honest and critical evaluation is something many of us put off, but as a wise person once said, “your comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.”

Hare a few more questions to help you refocus and stop leadership drift.

1. What do I want to do? — not, What should I do?
2. What do I truly desire? — not, What do I want to move away from or get rid of?
3. Why do I want that? Here you need to dig deep into your initial answers to discover what is fundamentally important to you.
4. What do I care deeply about? 
5. What do I want to be known for?
6. What is the legacy I want to leave?
7. How do I want to feel about myself? 
8. How do I want others to feel about me?

Crafting a personal leadership vision, setting goals, and taking action to get back on track is important for you and the teams you lead. The first step is to get clear about what matters most and where you want to go.

Today’s most successful leaders are not the top-down authoritarians of the past. They are authentic, open, and passionate about growing themselves and those around them. Personal leadership development is a big part of this. Creating a personal leadership plan has so many benefits – it helps you identify negative behaviors, overcome past conditioning, foster meaningful relationships with co-workers and friends alike, and ultimately build your career.

We can help you chart a new, more rewarding course (yep, not dropping the boat theme). It can be intimidating but investing in yourself is well worth the journey. To get started, contact us today.