In the Czech Republic, our hiking trails are best in class honestly. Each trail is clearly marked by coloured symbols on trees, sometimes with an additional arrow to point you on your way. These symbols match up to the signposts that periodically show up, usually at major junctions where trails criss-cross.
So, you may be asking what does this have to do with anything for me?
Well, if you use the hiking trails as a metaphor for your career, or your wider life, then you are now on to the magic sauce.
Our careers and lives are not a straightforward journey. We may make missteps and begin a new job path that ultimately goes to a dead end. We make decisions in the present moment without understanding where that path may lead.
What would be incredibly helpful in life and career, is a set of signposts pointing us clearly to short or long term objectives, these could go something like this:
Career Trail 1: A short but challenging route that will give you a chance to work in a high stress environment but offer maximum opportunity to grow fast and effective strategies for resilience and new skills.
Career Trail 2: A medium length slog through swampy terrain where you must tread carefully or fall into project quicksand, good for dedicated and experienced easy-going types.
Career Trail 3: A guaranteed long term trail of steady climbs and easy descents with beautiful views and several opportunities to rest and reflect on the progress being made. This trail is great for wellbeing and recovery.
These trails present a catalogue of choices that we may make throughout our lives, not just in careers, but in relationships too, in projects, in our self-optimisation and development.
Just think, following a set path consciously and with regular markers to help us see that where we are going, how amazing and enjoying life would be!?
I believe this is how a coach can help. A coach is like your very own dedicated hiking guide. Like a sherpa on the mountain, with wisdom to know the paths, and encouragement for the times we struggle to know the next direction.
If your own journey is in a dead end right now, or you are at a cross-roads and cannot decrypt the confusing signs in your life, reach out and lets discover a new path together.
Peace.