Summary
Career reinvention is increasingly essential in today's fast-paced work environment, according to Herminia Ibarra, a professor of organizational behavior at London Business School. In a recent discussion, she identifies four key factors driving this trend: longer life spans, technological advancements, workplace disruptions, and evolving job expectations. As people live longer, they seek more fulfilling careers rather than settling into stagnant roles. Technology is reshaping job markets, creating new opportunities while also rendering some positions obsolete. Additionally, employees now demand more from their jobs, including passion and purpose, leading to a higher turnover rate.
Despite the need for reinvention, many individuals struggle to navigate career transitions. Ibarra notes that while people often know what they want to leave behind, they frequently lack clarity on their next steps. This uncertainty can lead to a sense of identity loss, as jobs are closely tied to personal identity. To overcome these challenges, she advises individuals to explore multiple career possibilities simultaneously rather than waiting for a single ideal opportunity to present itself. This approach encourages experimentation and learning, allowing individuals to discover what truly resonates with them.
Ibarra also addresses the importance of authenticity in the workplace, arguing that it should not be equated with total openness. Instead, she emphasizes the need for a balance between self-disclosure and professionalism, suggesting that building relationships involves gradually revealing personal aspects rather than broadcasting everything at once. As organizations continue to adapt to hybrid work models and technological changes, leaders must cultivate people skills and emotional intelligence to foster collaboration and innovation. Ultimately, the ability to evolve and adapt will be crucial for success in the modern workplace.
Show Notes
To Reinvent Your Career, Start by Imagining a New You
7 Sep 2023
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For most of us, reinvention—of our careers and ourselves—is an extremely tall order. As London Business School professor Herminia Ibarra notes, you might know what you don’t want to do any more but be unsure what you actually do want to do next. People “don't know how to search when they don't know exactly what they're searching for,” she says. Much more important than trying to figure out the next career step is thinking more broadly about your possible selves, and then exploring several of those possible selves simultaneously. This is where having a diverse network helps a lot. And while most of us hate networking, Ibarra has tips on how to become better at that too. For this episode of our video series “The New World of Work”, HBR editor in chief Adi Ignatius sat down with Ibarra, a prolific author who is an expert on career transitions, to discuss:
• How to transition smoothly and successfully from one career to another • Being authentic in the workplace without limiting your own growth and evolution • How to break out of insular networks to truly connect with those who can link you to new opportunities.
Two of Ibarra’s books are coming out next month in updated editions: Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career and Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader. Book links: https://www.amazon.com/Working-Identity-Updated-Preface-Unconventional-ebook/dp/B0BTMQ97ZG/ https://www.amazon.com/Leader-Updated-Global-Bestseller-Preface-ebook/dp/B0BTMQN19H/
This interview part of a series called “The New World of Work,” which explores how top-tier executives see the future and how their companies are trying to set themselves up for success. Each week, Adi will interview a leader on LinkedIn Live — and then share an inside look at those conversations and solicit questions for future discussions in a newsletter just for HBR subscribers. If you’re a subscriber, you can sign up for the newsletter here: https://hbr.org/my-library/preferences?movetile=newworldofwork.
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