Frustrated folks are stuck at the crossroads of  Many Possibilities. They’re torn between their parent’s dreams and their own fantasies.The strongest sentiment they express is, “what if I choose the wrong path? I don’t want to commit myself to the wrong future.” With that fear firmly in place, they remain stuck. They prefer the angst of indecision to the requisite of choice. What they are missing is a realization that reasonable people, with benefit of new information and time, can choose again.

There are many people who inherently know which pathway to follow. They wait for permission to follow it.

Others know what they do well but worry they’re missing out on something better. They want someone to identify possibilities they may have overlooked.

Many like the safety of  “one road, one ticket “. They know what they have to do and do it, not because they love their work but that it’s work they can do. They know what to expect, their income is stable and their future secure. They manage themselves and their lives with constancy and steadfastness.  They are not prepared, emotionally or intellectually, for unexpected change.When that change comes in the form of a pink slip they become immobilized. Layoff, or termination without fault, defies their belief that good, hardworking people should be valued and retained. They don’t know what to do or where to turn.

And so they sit; the frustrated, the permission seeking, the worried, and the shell shocked, waiting for strobe lights to illuminate the path and point the way to the place they need to be. It doesn’t happen that way.

If you’re parked on a bench next to them and you’re interested in techniques that get you going, grab a pencil and a pad, you’ve got some work to do:

Start by taking inventory

What do you do well, naturally? What do you currently enjoy or have enjoyed as a hobby or pastime?  Do you prefer working alone or with others? If with others, how many others are involved?

If others are involved, what part do they play; what part do you play? If you prefer independence, what’s your preferred project or task?

What’s important or meaningful to you? What do you value in others? Describe the best boss or coach you’ve had; describe the best places you’ve worked. If you don’t have any positive memories, dig deeper. Who was your favorite teacher? Your favorite relative. Why?

When are you at your best? Are you more effective working hands-on, managing the practicality of day to day concerns in a workplace that has structure, order, and organization? Are you better at working with possibilities, creating outcomes not earlier considered?

Do you like to work from a checklist, with the expectations clear and the deadlines observed, or are you better off without boundaries, rules or regulations, figuring things out as you go?

Weave together your preferences.

I’m an independent, hands-on, pragmatic problem solver, preferring to work with tasks than people. I enjoy variety, flexibility, and mobility. I’m at my best when I can streamline processes, expedite outcomes, come in under budget and ahead of schedule.

Or possibly: I’m a team leader and a team player. I like to know what the goals are, and the payoffs that come from making them. I enjoy strategy more than details and design more than implementation. I’m able to understand what motivates and encourages people by listening to them. I put what I learn into practice by treating the people who work with me as I would my best customers.

Your strength profile becomes the foundation of your resume, your cover letters, your networking, and your interviews. It remains constant, no matter the company, the client, the product or the process.

Now get out there and start meeting people who enjoy the same things you do. Brainstorm job possibilities or directions that make sense. Follow up on ideas, call people you know and people you’re introduced to. Let them know who you are by describing what you do best and why you want to do it.

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Yes! You may use this article by Executive and Career Coach, Joyce Richman, in your blog, article in your blog, newsletter or website as long as you include the following bio box:

Joyce Richman (www.joycerichman.com) has been specializing in executive and career coaching since she started her own practice in 1982. She works in a variety of environments including: higher education, manufacturing, sales, marketing, media, technology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, banking and finance, service, IT, and non-profit sectors. A member of the adjunct faculty at the Center for Creative Leadership, Joyce is certified to administer a number of feedback and psychological instruments. Joyce is a weekly guest on WFMY-TV and the career columnist for The Greensboro News & Record. She is the author of Roads, Routes and Ruts: A Guidebook to Career Success and co-author of Getting Your Kid Out of the House and Into a Job. A popular speaker, Richman conducts seminars and workshops throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Her coaching profile can be found at TheCoachingAssociation.com