Career Antifragility
How can we thrive through volatility?
How can we thrive through volatility?
I had an enlightening experience during a recent career coaching session. Despite my coachee being in possession of a clear career vision, a well-crafted career road map and a purposeful development plan, something was amiss. He spoke openly about his fear. “It feels like I’m planning a trip to destination that may no longer be there by the time I arrive”. Why did he feel like he was on a road to nowhere?
A multitude of factors were fuelling this fear. The fragility of the industry in which he worked, the fragility of the career pathway he was attempting to navigate, and the fragility of his relationships with those he had always counted on for career support. While some of these factors were very real and outside his direct control, many were of his own making. Ultimately, his career was fragile.
I since came across the concept of ‘Antifragility’ and it was immediately apparent how this theory could be used to help people strengthen and evolve their career despite uncertainty and change.
A multitude of factors were fuelling this fear. The fragility of the industry in which he worked, the fragility of the career pathway he was attempting to navigate, and the fragility of his relationships with those he had always counted on for career support. While some of these factors were very real and outside his direct control, many were of his own making. Ultimately, his career was fragile.
I since came across the concept of ‘Antifragility’ and it was immediately apparent how this theory could be used to help people strengthen and evolve their career despite uncertainty and change.
Antifragility In Brief
Antifragility is the ability to thrive and prosper in chaos and adversity. The concept originates from Nassim Taleb, award-winning author of ‘The Black Swan’ and ‘Antifragile’. For those not familiar with the concept, Antifragile can best be described from a systems perspective:
- Fragile systems are highly optimised and tuned for performance in the specific conditions they were designed for. Should those conditions change, they fail quickly.
- Robust systems are designed to withstand stress and pressure, although they do not change or get stronger simply by enduring adversity.
- Antifragile systems are designed to improve through stress, pressure and adversity. They may neither be as highly tuned as fragile systems, nor as resilient as solid systems, but they will never stop improving.
What Causes Career Fragility?
I share with you the most pervasive themes arising from recent conversations I have had with people about their career. Several contributing factors to Career Fragility consistently emerge:
- Homogenous relationships / lack of investment in diverse career stakeholders – Career Fragility results from insufficient investment in building and maintaining diverse relationships. ‘Putting all your eggs in one basket’ through an over-reliance on too few or too similar career stakeholders creates vulnerability. Many of those I spoke to were betting on just a handful of relationships to help further their career, and had no Plan B.
- Absence of advocates – Career Fragility results from a fear of asking for help and a reluctance to curate a collection of career advocates. “I prefer to let my results and achievements speak for themselves” was a common response from people when asked how they make themselves known. Such passive reputation-management reduces visibility and decreases the likelihood of appearing on the radar of potential career advocates.
- Inattentiveness to trends and change – Career Fragility results from being too inward looking and lacking the foresight and awareness of wider trends in the industry and job market. An inability or unwillingness to adapt to change is a naturally self-limiting factor, but this risk was often exacerbated for many by ignoring or being inattentive to what was happening to similar roles in their own or other industries. Failure to anticipate and identify such changes ultimately leads to missed opportunity for incremental adaptation and self-improvement.
- Playing the victim – Career Fragility results from a reluctance to take ownership for the ups and downs in one’s career. This victimhood was a significant, albeit less common contributor amongst those I spoke to. True, some paint points in their careers were not self-inflicted or of their own making, but to abdicate responsibility leads only to a reduced sense of career self-efficacy. With such rapid changes in the world of work, there is an ever-present risk of being the victim of circumstance. Regardless, choosing to remain in the role of victim is a self-sabotaging choice, not a long-term solution.
So How Do I Make My Career Antifragile?
In his book, Nassim Taleb argues that Antifragility is achieved by identifying and minimising the ‘downsides’. From a career perspective, downsides include the habits, beliefs, actions, people and systems that make you vulnerable to volatility and risks.
Career Antifragility is achieved by eliminating the downsides and adopting more adaptive habits and systems. Some suggestions follow:
Career Antifragility is achieved by eliminating the downsides and adopting more adaptive habits and systems. Some suggestions follow:
- Curate connections - Dedicate time and energy into creating and cultivating the right relationships with both formal and informal career stakeholders. Focus on establishing more human, personal connections based on mutual commitment and reciprocity. Look further afield than the formal relationships that may be immediately obvious yet fail to yield any meaningful return on effort. Seek diversity in career relationships.
- Create a community of advocacy – As the saying goes, “What goes around comes around”. Start by becoming a career sponsor and advocate for others. Give praise, provide feedback and make people aware that you are there to put in a good word if they need it. Doing so will help you get more comfortable with career advocacy and should help you to overcome any hesitation or reluctance to reach out to those who can testify to your strengths. Identify and reinforce these relationships, be bold in drawing on them and in the spirit of reciprocity be sure to return the favour at every opportunity.
- Diversify and acknowledge the transferability of your skillset – Get out of your comfort zone, be adventurous and develop a curiosity for learning experiences that may initially frighten you or feel far from familiar. Say yes to opportunities to get involved in activities that allow you build a more diverse and transferrable skill set. Reflect carefully on your character strengths and technical expertise, never underestimating their transferability to other roles or industries.
- Be adaptable and hyper-aware – Be vigilant and stay informed about trends and changes in your industry. Consider the impact of these on your current job and the types of jobs you are considering for the future. Preemptive, incremental adaptation is far easier than being forced to change reactively when faced with unexpected adversity.
- Stop being a victim – Whether adversity and pain points in your career arise out of circumstance or as consequence of your own choices, take ownership and be an actor, not observer, in your career. Leave victimhood behind and build belief in your own ability to influence and navigate your career. As a mentor once told me, “Nobody is going to develop your career for you. It’s up to you”. Ultimately you need to step up and steer the ship.
So Where To From Here?
- Take a moment to reflect on yourself and your career. Identify those aspects of your career that are fragile, robust and antifragile.
- What are the downsides or risk factors to your career? Are there any habits, actions or beliefs that increase your vulnerability and make your career more fragile? If so, what can you do to change them or get rid of them?
- Start curating your career connections and advocates. Identify and seize opportunities to build connections and don’t overly depend on social media platforms. Bring in the human element as much as you can.
If the way you currently manage your career leaves you feeling vulnerable, do something now. Don’t waste time waiting for the perfect opportunity to make your career antifragile.