Sadie Visick Blog

As people shared what was on their minds at a recent meeting of senior leaders, one main theme kept cropping up. The scenarios were different, from identifying the next career move, to the potential impact of big changes afoot in their organisation. But when we explored the underlying concerns, it pretty much boiled down to ‘Who am I, if I’m not doing this role, here?’.

Many of us find it hard to separate the purpose of an organisation and our own personal drivers, especially if we’ve been there for a while. Our default position is that what gets us out of bed in the morning is the opportunity to have a positive impact, doing what we do, in that organisation. And if we stop feeling that way, or the needs of the organisation change, then contemplating the future isn’t just a process involving head-hunters and LinkedIn – it can feel pretty existential. 

When I’ve worked with people returning to work after a career break or maternity leave, concerns around identity and expectations in the workplace are often top of their minds, too. And then of course if we are planning to move to part-time work or a portfolio career, will we feel unanchored in a world without the usual organisational structures and cadences? 

In my own experience, Windsor Leadership has provided me with so much more in terms of personal and professional development than the initial programme I attended in 2007, including the tools to reflect on my own identity. As my career has developed, my syndicate has been a valuable source of advice, providing insights into other sectors and roles, and even contacts in prospective employers’ organisations.

Throughout the twists and turns of the past two decades, I’ve attended Windsor seminars and events where the speakers’ experiences and approaches have broadened my own thinking and reminded me to take time out to reflect on my leadership practice. And then in the last five years, I’ve had the opportunity to chair a Windsor group of senior leaders who meet quarterly. I would have been tempted to say more about how brilliant this group is, but we recently debated the ‘honoured and privileged’ tone of many LinkedIn posts, so I’ll refrain from that!  What I will say is that they bring all the big, emerging and current themes of working life to the table – as well as family challenges, geopolitics and heaps of fortitude. And spending time with them, and hearing what they are grappling with, invariably  leads me to reflect inwards on who I am. 

So, if you are contemplating a career transition, here’s a few ideas that may be helpful, gleaned from my own experience and harvested from those generously shared by others:

• In true Windsor fashion, know what makes you tick as a person and a leader.  What really matters to you now, and will matter in the next few years?
• If money was no object, what would you really love to do and where could you do it?  Given money is likely to factor, what’s the closest you can get to it?  Consider if it’s a series of moves, rather than just one to bag the ‘ideal’ job.
• Who can you talk to for ideas, advice and contacts in your work and personal network, and in the wider Windsor network? (a quick look at the alumni portal can be fruitful!)
• If you want some content to chew on, consider attending a Windsor event, like the forthcoming Stepping into a New Context: Career Transitions
• And if you would like to explore whether joining a Windsor group of peers that meets periodically is for you, please contact Alumni Relations Manager Liz Ward.