The Positive Transition
During the fourth quarter of 2021, “employees [were] switching jobs at a higher than usual pace as more flexible ‘work-from-home’ arrangements create greater job mobility.”¹ The experts call it The Great Resignation.² At Bryant Group, we call it The Great Opportunity.
As some organizations continue to lose employees who are unsatisfied or have re-examined their priorities, other organizations and businesses are reaping the rewards of these changes, attracting experienced professionals who want to try something new. Some people are taking an opportunity to work in a new but related career and celebrating starting a new chapter. I am one of the few, the proud, and the lucky to benefit from the changing tides stirred by The Great Opportunity. In fact, my transition is more like starting a new book.
I have enjoyed and treasured 20 successful years in higher education advancement. I benefitted from lessons of initiating, building, and sustaining relationships that were mutually beneficial to the institute of higher education and to alumni, parents, friends, and corporate partners. As with many of my colleagues, my next planned career move, to continue my chosen career trajectory, would have been to target and accept an advanced role in advancement (don’t excuse the pun it was intentionally placed).
Then faith (or fate) stepped in with an intriguing option, a position with Bryant Group. This opportunity, prior to its proposition, was never a thought, yet once posed, I took some time to sincerely consider it. Different than starting a new chapter, starting a new book requires some faith, courage, and trust.
First, I needed to know that the values of the company align with mine. That examination was more intense than any exams taken while in college (B.A. and M.A.). On the flip side, Bryant Group also needed to ensure that our values aligned and that I have the aptitude, the capability, and the capacity to handle the challenges of starting a new adventure with them. As we explored the possibility, the decision from all sides was unanimous. Bryant Group welcomed me, and I took a leap of faith to start a new book, a new story in my career.
There were three lessons I learned from the transition.
First, have confidence in your competence. Second, make sure your values align well with the values of the new organization. Third, ensure the culture of the new company is conducive for you to grow and make an impact.
The first lesson requires you to unpack yourself, your goals, and your challenges. Once you identify what you want in and from life, decide on the path that might get you there. Step back, be still, and accept, with confidence, who you are and where you want to go. Be true to yourself, know yourself, and respect yourself.
The second lesson is to use your objectivity to align your most important values with the most important values of the organization you are investigating and considering. This step is similar to prospecting a donor or corporate partnership for your organization. My top two values are Honesty and Integrity. The top two values of Bryant Group are Honesty and Integrity. Have you defined your values? Has the organization you are vetting defined theirs?
The last, yet equally important lesson, is to discern the appropriate culture, philosophy, and feel of the company. This step is subjective but useful when identifying your next position (new chapter or new book). With these lessons in mind, I joined Bryant Group, where we get to change lives and positively impact institutions, one leader at a time.
References
¹BLB&B Advisors, LLC, Quarterly Economic Review 4th Quarter 2021
²NPR, The Great Resignation: Why People Are Leaving Their Jobs In Growing Numbers
