By Lisa B. McNeill, PCC
Have you ever turned around and realized that looking at what was behind you was just as important as seeing what was in front of you?
I was recently in the Canadian Rockies, and to tell you the truth, I was overwhelmed by the beauty all around me. The mountains, glaciers, rivers, lakes – it was all more beautiful than the photos I had seen while planning my trip.
As we drove along the Icefields Parkway, I would catch a glimpse of what was in the rearview mirror and think, “I need to remember to look behind me.” What was in front of us was stunning, and what was behind us was also breathtaking. It provided a different perspective, often softer because of the difference in light or distance.
I said this so frequently, I started to think about the times in my life when it was important to turn around to get a different perspective. Traveling, of course. Beautiful landscapes warrant a 360-degree view. But time also allows us to look back and see things from a different perspective. Life’s big occasions, relationships, and even the trajectory of a career.
I’ve had clients who want the answer to what their next big, strategic career move should be, or why they are not progressing faster in their current workplace. In these cases, I like to ask the person to look back to reflect on their journey. I ask them about times they felt the most vital, when they were learning the most, achieving the most, and even when they were having the most fun.
From those moments, clients can sometimes get a sense of what was happening that allowed them to excel. Maybe it was the environment, a particular boss, or the type of work they were doing.
With information and awareness of the past, it’s often easier to consider next steps in your journey. Not so much as a specific roadmap, but to look for the next steppingstone that will help lead to your ultimate destination – whether it be a job title, satisfaction in the kind of work you are doing, a feeling of balance or so many other things.
When I started my career, I couldn’t have imagined all of the twists and turns it would take – and I’ve loved each one of them! Sometimes it wasn’t easy, often it was a lot of hours, and at times I didn’t do a great job of maintaining personal relationships in the way that I wanted. And I always learned something new from the people I worked with and about myself. With each step, I learned more and more about what I could do, and what I wanted to do.
I don’t think I ever could have planned it the way that it turned out, but when I look back, I can see how each step allowed me to stretch and grow, to try something new, to expand my networks, and to go to places I would not have gone. And to be unafraid of switching directions and going someplace new.
When I talk to clients and young people in my life, I encourage them to enjoy the journey, not be afraid of change and new perspectives, look for moves that will allow growth and satisfaction in whatever way they are seeking in that moment, and always remember to turn around and look back to see how far they’ve come.
Lisa McNeill is an ICF-certified coach and consultant who works with leaders in a wide array of industries as well as those in transition. Throughout her career, she has worked to build and develop strong teams in international, regional and grassroots settings.
Image: Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada by Lisa McNeill