Throwing yourself into the deep end: is this the best approach for your career?

I’m sure that you’ve heard the phrase “fake it until you make it.”

This ethos doesn’t just apply to wannabe celebrities, hungry for the limelight.  Many Salespeople also apply it to their careers in FMCG.  They push for promotions which can be far beyond their comfort zone and ability level, for greater status and pay, trusting that they will figure it out on the job. 

I can say from experience that I took this risk myself at a pivotal point in my career in 2018 and it unfortunately didn’t pay off.  Here are some factors you should consider before throwing yourself into the deep end.

What is the current skill gap between where you are and where you need to be to succeed on the job? Realistically, do you think that you can pick these up on-the-job?

I think that this is the most important question to ask yourself when making the decision to plunge into the deep end. 

Perhaps that role requires you to have dial up existing skills to the next level.  An example of this could stepping up to manage a larger, more business-critical account, like Tesco or Sainsburys.  You may currently be managing a smaller account(s) and essentially have necessary fundamental skills to look after the newer account, like relationship-building, negotiation, commercial management and influencing but you now need to increase each of these from a 5 to 10. 

In this case, you are probably well-placed to make that leap.  Whilst it will be tough at the start, you will be able to hone your abilities on-the-job.

However, what if you are lacking big skills like real strategic planning or people management? Or what if you are stepping into a completely different industry?

With regards to lacking major skills, these are going to be much harder to learn on the job.  If you show long term commitment to an organisation, this is where they will make investments to help you develop your strategic mindset and help you find your leadership style. 

However, when you jump ship to a new organisation where you need to display these competencies straight off the bat, you are not going to be afforded the time to learn.  They will expect you already possess these capabilities and hit the ground running as soon as you start. 

And don’t underestimate the move into completely different industries.  Account Management roles in FMCG are broadly similar in my experience.  However, the nature of the role changes once you move into the Technology or Toy sectors.  Make sure that you do your research, because they may be structured in a way which is very different to what you are used to.

I did my first people management role, whilst managing a completely new customer base (Export customers), in a new business and I was never able to catch up.  The whole time I was in that role I felt like was slowly drowning.  Don’t underestimate the impact of working on accounts which are totally alien to you.  I was working at the time with Distributors in other markets, with no category insights, as well as dealing with the minefield of Brexit at the time.

And this leads to the next important question.

How far are you willing to push beyond your comfort zone?

I believe that the answer to this question is going to depend on which values are most important to you.  The further you venture beyond your comfort zone, the greater the demands on your free time and mental capacity. 

If the values most important to you include money, status and achievement then you are probably going to feel more motivated to make the sacrifices necessary to consistently work at the extreme limits of your comfort zone.  The increased pay cheque and elevated title will be worth the long hours you will be required to put in.

However, if you prioritize values like fun, freedom, family and fitness, then stretching yourself so far past your comfort threshold, will be very challenging.  In the longer term it will lead to stress and unhappiness.  Your new role is going to be all-consuming and take you away from your passions in life. 

Regarding my personal story, I thought that money and status were my most important values.  However, in 2018 when I found myself in the deep end, doing 60 flights in 6-months which took me away from my wife and friends, as well as the impact it had on my health as I had to reduce the time dedicated to my jiu-jitsu and fitness regimen, I quickly descended into misery.

High levels of stress over the long term is not healthy.  When we experience stress our bodies release the cortisol hormone, which can change immune system response, suppress the digestive system and growth processes.  At the end of that first year in the role I felt burned out and was relieved when they made me redundant.

Also trust YOUR gut, rather than the recruiter who is pushing you to take the job.  If after some deep introspection, something still doesn’t feel right about the opportunity, then it probably isn’t the right time to throw yourself into the deep end.

How building Mental Fitness can help.

Whether you are in the deep end right now, or thinking of making that leap, building your Mental Fitness muscles will help you to handle any situation.  Having stronger mental muscles can stop you from being controlled by negative thoughts and help you to gain the clarity of thought and focus required to prioritize your most important tasks amidst the chaos of being in the deep end.

As is true of any lasting habit change, this takes at least 6-weeks of intense work.  If you are interested in this game-changing program then take the Positive Intelligence Saboteur Assessment https://www.positiveintelligence.com/saboteurs/ and then book a free 30-minute coaching call with me at https://www.expcoaching.co.uk/ to find out more!