This session is about you. And about your career. Where you want it to go. And how you can make it happen, whether you have children, are thinking about having children or have caring responsibilities. I also hope it will hold value and interest for those simply interested in exploring their own career development. The session is focused on transformation of self, using key events in the career journey of one individual to support others in exploring their own career development. 18 months after graduating and being appointed to my first role at Oxford Brookes University, I made the transition from young free and single 20 something, to single working parent, navigating the complexities of balancing brand new, and unexpected, parenthood with a fledgling career. Since then, I have been afforded, and fully exploited, a number of opportunities for career enhancement, and I have been given the space to do this alongside being a parent. This environment has enabled to me to take a burgeoning career and a child and be fully committed to both of them. 9 1/2 years and six roles later, it has become increasingly important to me to support colleagues in their career development, and in balancing their varied commitments in order to lead a full and satisfying working life. Using key experiences throughout my career for context, this session will explore the ways in which you view yourself; the way in which others view you; opportunities for (and barriers to) development; the sphere of control you exercise over your own future; and your allies and support network. The session will also explore the skills you use daily in your roles outside of the office to enhance your own professional practice, and how we, as individuals, can help set the tone for future managers, creating future generations of manager who support their colleagues in their development, regardless of their parental or caring status. The session will use small discussion groups to explore certain topics, individual and personal reflections which may or may not be shared, and personal pledges to ourselves about the next steps we want to take. It is intended to be a supportive, group session, where Chatham House Rules and commitment to confidentiality will be key to its success.

1. Introduction

2. And then
this
happened..
.

3. Recognising
your
everyday
skill-set

4. Exercise 1
Identify the skills you
use in your personal life

5. Mum
Patience
Selflessness
Organisation
Commitment
Logistics
Coordination
Partner
Collaborative
working
Planning
ahead
Sharing
Delegation
Prioritisation
Conflict
management
Gym
Focus
Drive
Perseverence
Constistency
Target
setting
Time
management
Friend
Listening
Loyalty
Making time
Empathy
Sympathy
Supportive
Mentor
Feedback
Guidance
Kindness
Frankness
Diplomacy
Influence

6. "Talent is
everywhere, but
opportunity isnt"

7. Treat it as a
climbing-frame;
not a Ladder

8. Scan All the Opportunities on the Horizon

9. Exercise 2
How can you be
opportunity ready?

10. OpportunitiesEducate
yourself
Find
problems &
offer
solutions
Shadowing
Mentoring
Volunteering
Attending
talks &
seminars
CPD
Attend/speak
at
conferences
Secondments
Working
Groups
Engage with
colleagues
Join groups /
societies

11. "How you feel is written all over your
face. Until you learn to control it,
people will question your ability."

12. What Do You
Think People
Think of
you?

13. Exercise 3
Consider how you are
perceived by your
colleagues

14. What do
You Want
People to
Think of
You?

15. Exercise 4
Consider how you want
to be perceived by your
colleagues
Are they the same?

16. What are
Your Key
Barriers to
Success?

17. Exercise 5
What are the things you
feel are holding you
back?
To what extent are you
one of them?

18. What's
holding you
back?
Fear of rejection
Lack of
confidence
Lack of time
Lack of
opportunity
Conflict –
parenthood or
career???
(judgement)

19. And Then Came the Restructure....

20. "You could be extraordinary, but you never will be"
My History Teacher, 1997

21. Is Your
Confidence
a Barrier to
Your Own
Success?

22. Along came
the job of my
dreams....but I
wasn’t ready

23. Your
skill-set
Vs.
Your
desired
skill-set

24. Exercise 6
What do you think the
skill set of your dream
job is?
What are you missing?

25. Strategies to Raise Your Profile

26. Exercise 7
What can you do to
raise your profile at
work?

27. •ImpactAction
•Build your network, create allies, increase sphere of
reference, seek out opportunities
Networking
•Increase awareness of your positive achievements and
and the benefits or reduced risk as a result
Self Promotion
•Getting outside your comfort zone, learn new tasks, meet
new people, learn new skills, seen as positive contributor
Saying "yes"
•Increase perception of you as problem solver, risk aware,
conscientious
Fix a problem
•People see you as part of the business, view you as part
of the solution, think of you when opportunities arise
Be visible
•Seen as positive, kind and grateful. Encourages the same
behaviour back which enhances your image
Thank people and promote others

28. Now you have
influence,
what are you
going to do
with it?

29. What kind
of leader do
you want to
be?

30. Be Courageous Enough to Abandon Your Past
and Write Your Own Future

31. Exercise 8
What makes you
special?
Your Personal Pledges

32. Thank you!
belinda.platt@brookes.ac.uk