“The universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself, everything that you want you already are.” – Rumi
As a seasoned tech professional, you’ve likely faced your share of transitions. In the current volatile and ever-evolving tech landscape, change is constant, and with it comes the challenge of maintaining a strong sense of self-value. But what if you could turn these transitions into opportunities for growth? Using the OSKAR framework: a powerful solutions-focused coaching technique, positions you to can do that.
I was introduced to the OSKAR framework delivered by Paul Z Jackson as an effective and efficient coaching technology last Fall during my studies with Positive Acorn to become a Certified Positive Psychology Coach. The OSKAR framework resonates deeply and dove-tails with my professional development as a therapist that included taking a course by Bill O’Hanlon a few years ago, called The Solution-Oriented Approach. I was first introduced to Solution-Focused Therapy by my counselling supervisor and mentor, Mahmud Nestman who developed his Trust-Oriented-Therapy model. His model incorporates many of the teachings of Milton Erikson (who I consider to be the father of being Solution-Focused centric in therapy) in addition to other modern psychology and therapy greats.
As I implement the OSKAR framework with clients, it is another fundamental aspect that helps me partner with clients, supporting them to shift from feeling stuck, uncertain and stagnant in their careers to creating possibilities and options to move forward. Here is an outline of how I use this with clients as a prompt and to help you leverage Self-Value as a Superpower for Your Tech Career Transition.
O: Outcome – Defining Your Success
The first step in any transition is to clarify what success looks like for you. What outcome are you aiming for in your career transition? Perhaps it’s securing a leadership role, finding a position that aligns with your values, or simply feeling more confident in your professional identity. By clearly defining your desired outcome, you set a target that guides your journey.
As you consider your outcome, reflect on your self-value. How does achieving this outcome enhance your sense of worth? Understanding the connection between your goals and self-value can provide the motivation needed to pursue your aspirations with confidence.
S: Scaling – Measuring Where You Are Now
Next, take stock of where you currently stand in relation to your desired outcome. On a scale of 1 to 10, where do you see yourself right now? This isn’t about judging your progress; it’s about understanding your starting point. Recognize that wherever you are on this scale, you have already taken steps toward your goal.
Scaling also helps you identify the small wins along the way.
What have you already done that’s moving you closer to your outcome? Acknowledge these achievements – they are proof of your self-value in action.
K: Know-How – Recognizing Your Strengths and Resources
In the OSKAR framework, the focus is on building from your strengths. What skills, knowledge, and resources do you have that can help you achieve your outcome? This is where your self-value becomes particularly important. Your past experiences, expertise, and even the challenges you’ve overcome all contribute to your know-how.
Reflect on how you’ve successfully navigated transitions in the past. What strategies worked for you? How did you leverage your strengths? By recognizing and utilizing these resources, you empower yourself to tackle the current transition with renewed confidence.
A: Affirm + Action – Taking Purposeful Steps
Now, it’s time to translate your insights into action. What’s the next step you can take to move closer to your desired outcome? This step doesn’t have to be monumental; it only needs to be purposeful. Each action you take reinforces your self-value and builds momentum toward your goal.
Affirming your progress is also crucial. Celebrate the micro wins and remind yourself that each step, no matter how small, is a move in the right direction. This positive reinforcement helps maintain your motivation and keeps you focused on your journey ahead.
R: Review – Reflecting on Progress and Iterating
Finally, regularly review your progress. You are likely familiar with the Agile approach, and it can easily be applied here. What’s working well? What could be adjusted? The review phase is about staying adaptable and open to change. As you move through your transition, your understanding of your self-value may evolve, and that’s acceptable and to be expected. This is a dynamic process (your Career Development Life Cycle – CDLC, so to speak) and being open to revisiting and refining your goals will help you stay aligned with your true aspirations.
Reflection questions to consider during your review:
– How has my sense of self-value grown as I’ve progressed toward my outcome?
– What new strengths and/or resources have I discovered in myself?
– What’s the next small step I can take to continue building my self-value?
Embracing Self-Value as a Superpower for Your Tech Career Transition utilising the OSKAR Framework
The OSKAR framework isn’t only a coaching tool – it’s a way to structure your journey through career transitions with clarity and confidence. By focusing on outcomes, recognizing your strengths, taking purposeful action, and regularly reviewing your progress, you create a path that honours your self-value every step of the way.
Remember, self-value is your foundation. We began with these wise words from Rumi, “The universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself, everything that you want you already are.” As you navigate your career transition, I invite you to include the OSKAR framework to build on self-value as your foundation; consider it as part of your infrastructure guiding you toward success in a way that can offer meaning and alignment with the core of who you are.
My hope is that this information is helpful and useful to your career journey, but it is not intended to replace professional career support. If you would like to learn more about this intriguing topic and/or are looking for help with your tech career transition, click here for more info on my upcoming live online ENTRADA Masterclass – From Stagnation to Innovation: Self-Value as a Career Superpower on Wednesday Sept 25 at 5pm PT. One bonus I will share with registrants after the live Masterclass will be my “Self-Value as a Superpower Worksheet”. My very special guest will be Patricia Morgan, Resilience Expert, award-winning author, and insightful and uplifting speaker. Patricia will share three powerful and practical tools from her latest book, “Return To Center” adding valuable resources to your toolkit towards a successful tech career transition.
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If you prefer to meet for individual support for your tech career transition, book a Brief Consult with me today!