ection>
Taking Charge
...Your Future...
Chris Johnson
Taking Charge
By Chris Johnson
Copyright 2011 Chris Johnson,
All rights reserved.
Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-0493-6
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
Preface- Taking charge
It’s over twenty years since people first started to be told by employers, ‘it’s up to you now to manage your own career’. And of course, that’s precisely what most of us have done - or have we?
I for one recognise that, however easy that sounds, the reality of managing my own career is a different proposition. That’s why Chris Johnson’s ideas have always resonated strongly with me. I’ve had the privilege of being coached by him at several stages of my own career. In fact, I’ve gained so much from his help that, a few years back, I urged him to write down some of his thinking so that others could also benefit. And finally, that’s what he has done here.
As Chris points out, what many people do, me included, is take the path of least resistance when it comes to career choice. Amongst Chris’s gifts is the art of helping people to see the wood for the trees.
When Chris coached me, he was able to help me distil complex ideas and feelings, taking away some of the fears and confusion that goes with these. Suddenly, the way ahead is clear and it all makes perfect common sense.
It’s that process which has helped me to ‘take charge’ of my own career, to recognise what’s right and what’s wrong for me and to act accordingly.
Chris’s coaching arts are rich in psychological insight and are the product of an inquiring, perspicacious mind, and extensive experience of the real-world challenges of forging a satisfying career in today’s complex organisational contexts. His approach is practical as well as strategic. Above all, as the many people he’s coached will attest.
Chris really cares about helping people to make the right choices for them. After all, he has walked the talk on that in his own career so he knows what he’s talking about. And, with his book to guide you, you are in safe hands.
Linda Holbeche
Foreword
A decade ago a good friend of mine said “you have a duty to write this down”. Eventually, spurred into action by my son who has written and sold his own book at 19 years, I put pen to paper. Actually, to be more accurate, my long suffering friend Amelia typed every word, recreated the diagrams from my artistic sketches, and turned a jumbled mass of notes into something coherent. My family, Rosemary, Simon and Verity, has provided stimulating challenges and the motivation to keep going, as have my colleagues at Kerridge who reviewed, revised and commented on each word. The result is a much more coherent text than I could ever have achieved alone.
The text is meant to stimulate your thinking, to provide food for thought and to encourage you to “take charge of your career”.
Chris Johnson
Auckland, New Zealand
April 2011
About the Author
Chris has spent over 20 years helping individuals take charge of their career. He has combined a career as HR Director & as a Board Member and Managing Director with being confidant, consultant and coach to hundreds of leaders.
Originally starting as a qualified sports coach 30 years ago he was one of the first senior managers to experience the value of Executive Coaching in the UK, in the 1980’s, then became a qualified executive coach himself in the 1990’s.
Chris continues to coach leaders around the world including New Zealand, Europe and the Middle East which he combines with a teaching role on the Executive MBA programme at Auckland University.
In his spare time he coached his wife Rosemary to be a world rowing champion and become an accredited member of The Association for Professional Executive Coaching and Supervision in the UK and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personal Management.
About this Book
This book is for anyone who wants to positively “take charge of their career”. It is not a self help guide to careers but more of a way of thinking.
The first chapter introduces the ideas and concepts that underpin the approach.
The subsequent chapters reflect different career stages.
Chapter 2 – Early Career
Chapter 3 – Challenges of Careers and Family
Chapter 4 – The ‘No Retirement” option
Chapter 5 – Importance of Networking
Chapter 6 – 1st 100 days in new role
Chapter 7 – Staying on track
I suggest you read Chapter 1, then pick the most appropriate chapter to you. Everyone should read Chapter 5 on networking; it applies at all stages of our career.
I hope you enjoy the book. Please let me know your thoughts and views via email at [email protected]
Конец
