Career Anchors Workshop
Finding our inner direction
We got together last month for our first career anchors workshop, a very key and helpful tool in evaluating one’s work-life and what it should be built around.
We wanted to give our participants an opportunity to reflect on what is working and what is not working in their professional lives, and a chance to re-evaluate current and future choices in a manner that is more aligned to their core dispositions.
WHAT ARE CAREER ANCHORS?
As defined by organisational psychologist Edgar Schein in the 1970s, Career Anchors are deep-seated, consistent motivators and values that guide an individual’s career decisions, acting as an internal compass.
Since Career Anchors can change through life, we approached the session as a check-in exercise to understand how far (or not) each of us has strayed from their innate motivators.
During our workshop we explored the 8 anchors and the type of professions that can be associated with each of them.
Technical & Functional Competence
Want to be the ultimate expert and guru in your field, prioritising specialised skill over managing people.
Service/Dedication to a Cause
Motivated by a mission, finding more fulfilment in helping others than in money or personal status.
General Managerial Competence
Thrive on leadership and accountability, seeking the power to run teams and solve big-picture problems.
Entrepreneurial Creativity
Driven to create and own something new, thriving on the variety and fast pace of building your own venture.
Autonomy/Independence
Need the freedom to work on your own terms and your own schedule, without being tied down by the system.
Security/Stability
Prioritise safety and predictability, choosing a stable role with solid benefits over a risky promotion.
Pure Challenge
Crave the ‘impossible’ task and get bored if you aren’t testing yourself against a difficult problem.
Lifestyle
Work to live, your career adapts to your personal life goals rather than letting your job run your life.
We then moved on to two exercises that allowed each of us to reflect on how our self-perception can be challenged given the right questions.
As we navigate change in the world of work, we think it’s key to really start from solid ground, and we believe that clarity around our priorities and values is vital to start this journey.
Our participants have now received a guide and their own Career Anchors Profile to help them get started in the process of realigning their career to what really matters to them.
The next step is taking action.
At NextWork Circle our mission is to keep coaching accessible, this is why we will be offering an online in-depth session for a small group of up to 10 people, for a symbolic fee of 15£ that will help us cover the cost.
You’ll leave the session with:
• Deep understanding of Career Anchors and your own Career Anchors Profile
• A simple decision-making framework you can use for life
• A personalised Anchor-Aligned Action Plan
• Clear next steps that feel right for you
• A shortlist of roles, environments, and opportunities that fit you