“Always have a plan B or even a plan C.” 5 tips from coaches for a successful professional transition

Jump. Reinvent yourself Change the course. These three words are an integral part of the career vocabulary today.You only need to browse LinkedIn to see the scale of the phenomenon. We can no longer count the number of publications in which former employees talk about their transition to entrepreneurship, for example. Linear paths (study, work, retirement) without breaks or upheavals, protected from accidents, bad choices or reversals, so to speak, no longer exist, nor do people who have held the same position for more than forty years. In the second quarter of 2024 alone, Dares, the statistics body of the Ministry of Labour, calculated 459,900 permanent resignations in mainland France.

Training, promotion, unemployment, transition to part-time work… Professional life is more and more dizzying – the excitement of renewal is always accompanied by fear of the unknown, a source of doubt. it can also be a boost, provided you prepare well so you don’t lose your balance while diving.

Build your security

This is the first pillar of a successful transition: “This offers greater flexibility and better conditions to approach change calmly,” says Aviva Wittenberg-Cox, CEO of the consulting firm 20-First in case of training or several months without work. No longer being immediately and completely dependent on the success of your future project takes the pressure off immediately.

To develop your security, it’s about (re)controlling your finances as soon as possible. Savings, investments, assets… there are several solutions to diversify your income and thus gain autonomy class Madame Figaro, Titled “Invest Your Money Early to Gain Freedom” and posted online last February.

If you think you can finish your project in six months, you should give yourself eighteen

China Lanzman, Women’s Leadership Coach

Plan

What exactly do you plan to do at the end of your current contract? The answer, of course, varies from case to case. “But in general, it’s best to avoid periods of depression that can trigger a fear of heights,” advises trainer China Lanzman, Woman. Impact Founder: If you’re going to be unemployed for a few months, for example, it might be a good idea to plan a project, even if it involves taking a vacation, learning new technology, moving, or renovating a room in your house.

If you’re aiming for a career change, the coach recommends having a plan B, or even a plan C, if things don’t go the way you envisioned. And, above all, give yourself time. “If you think you can finish your project in 6 months, then you should give yourself 18. Then you give yourself a better chance of success.”

Form:

Another lever. predict as best as possible (and as quickly as possible) what awaits us. Do we have the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the future environment of our dreams? If not, you can strengthen your brain and your knowledge , primarily through books or podcasts, but also through training or certifications if you want: leadership or management training up to a senior position, for example, or even training in intelligent artificial intelligence… Useful training even before changing positions, and which can be carried out by “exploring interests, without a specific goal, simply to discover if desired; explore a different path,” encourages China Lantzman. This path can also lead us to paths we did not imagine.

(Well) surround yourself

Because the professional transition can seem like a very lonely path, listening to friends and family can make all the difference. That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with caring people who provide support from family and friends, but also in a professional environment to enrich, to find role models around you who inspire and push you to excel,” emphasizes China Lantzman.

To fight loneliness, you can turn to “peer coaching”

Aviva Wittenberg-Cox, CEO of 20-First Consulting

To increase mobility, the coaches we interviewed recommend getting support from a dedicated professional or, as Aviva Wittenberg-Cox suggests, a mentoring model through “peer learning,” where several people with similar skills help each other. “We discover that we are not alone going through changes and supporting each other.”

Be open-minded

Ultimately, whether a professional transition feels good or not depends primarily on your state of mind. “Changes are part of everyone’s evolution,” remembers Aviva Wittenberg-Cox. Each new chapter allows you to gain additional skills and expand your network : And we can work on seeing it that way.”

You should still consider yourself capable of starting from scratch.growth mindset“, towards a growth-oriented mindset, in French. How “We set regular, achievable goals for ourselves to prove to ourselves that we are capable of achieving them,” suggests Aviva Wittenberg-Cox.Since change forces itself on us, everywhere and all the time, perhaps we just need and this is as true in the workplace as anywhere else.