The Silencing of Career Vision Marla Gottschalk

The Silencing of Career Vision Marla Gottschalk Most of us keep our wildest career dreams under wraps. I’m convinced this is completely normal. (What we value most is always the most heavily protected.) When I decided to become a psychologist, I really didn’t fully know my own mind or what I had to offer. Over the years that picture has become more defined. It developed. It has pivoted from the original dream that flashed through my mind’s eye at 17. That is also completely normal. When we are young, everyone asks about our career “dreams”. Where we want to go, what we would like to contribute. As we get older â€" not as much. We stop envisioning our career path and we can start to settle. I believe that is where organizations lose their best people to disengagement. Either managers do not have the inclination to discuss such things â€" or contributors aren’t encouraged to start that conversation. But, the best places to work, get things done. But career vision is also in the corner of their eye. It is never ignored. They understand that when work life stagnates, the end is likely around the corner. That is why it is critical to dream. To envision. In that way, we flesh out what is there (or not). In that way we can hammer out a path or at least away to re-envision that passion. I challenge you to share your next career dream with 3 people. Consider how that vision can become (at least in part) a reality. Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. She is a charter member of the LinkedIn Influencer Program. Her thoughts on work life have appeared in various outlets including Talent Zoo, Forbes, Quartz and The Huffington Post.