4 Simple Tips for Planning Your Next Career Move with Intention
I had a call with a friend this week where we talked through a breakthrough he had about navigating his career over the next 5 years. The conversation was exciting to me, it felt like a pivotal scene in a film. You know, the moment right before something really great is about to happen? That’s how I felt during the call and right after we hung up.
Jobs are inherently personal. When they’re good, they’re good. You can feel it. But when things are bad or when we hit a wall, the effects ripple throughout our personal lives. Sometimes, we have the urge to flee. That urge to see what else is out there. It’s normal.
That frustration is what kickstarts many of us into searching for something new.
Sometimes, running away from a seemingly bad situation is the right call. You leave a toxic environment and end up running toward something better. But other times, you might end up in a role that isn’t the right fit because the move wasn’t intentional—it was reactive. Trust me, I’ve been there.
What struck me about my conversation with my friend was how centered he was in defining his next steps. He anchored his decision-making process in his values, his motivations, and his needs, ensuring he was running toward something meaningful rather than just away from a moment of frustration. He took the time to examine his frustrations, to understand the drivers, and to pinpoint what he wanted and why. This kind of intentionality is what successful transitions are made of.
This conversation took me back to my own career transitions. Early on in my corporate journey, I climbed the ladder quickly—moving from individual contributor to VP of Operations. I leaned into my strengths and what motivated me at the time: spotting patterns, identifying inefficiencies, leading engaged teams, and solving profitability problems. Those were my differentiators, and they pushed me forward.
But when I transitioned into coaching, I realized something else was driving me all along, a hidden superpower.
I was a people-first leader.
I wasn’t “nice” in a people-pleasing way, but I had this knack for inspiring others to deliver their best work. It wasn’t a skill I consciously built—it just happened, it was part of how I showed up.
It showed up when I asked my peers in leadership to write notes to their teams to share the impact those individuals had on the business and surprised their teams with those notes at an offsite I hosted. Or the time I personally selected and shipped over 40 unique, meaningful gifts to my matrix team members one holiday season. Or how I turned my year-end department meetings into moments of reflection and celebration. At the time, I didn’t think of these as part of my skill set—I thought of them as extras.
But when I stepped into coaching, those “extras” became the foundation of my business. Inspiring people wasn’t just a hidden strength—it had always been a key driver of my success. I have a talent for understanding people, what drives them, and how to help them do/be their best at work. I was a performance coach all along. Recognizing that transformed the way I work today.
With 2024 coming to a close, I wanted to share some tips on how to plan a transition with intention—just in case you’re eyeing your next move in 2025.
1. Identify Your Core Values and Key Motivators
Every decision you make starts with you. Before you make an intentional move, it’s critical to understand what drives you.
You can think of your core values and key motivators as a compass, helping you steer toward roles and environments that align with a more authentic version of yourself. One of the first exercises I do with most of my clients revolves around understanding their core values and motivators and it really gets at the “why” behind why some things do and don’t work for them in a professional environment.
Consider this: Harvard Business Review emphasizes the importance of aligning work with values, noting that:
“Values-driven employees are more engaged, experience less burnout, and are better equipped to navigate challenges.”
Ask yourself:
What are the top 3-5 values that guide how I approach my work and life? (If you need a list of 50 core values to refer to, I personally like James Clear’s list.)
What motivates me to do my best work—recognition, autonomy, impact, financial security, or something else?
When have I felt most fulfilled in my career? What was happening in those moments?
When you identify what matters most to you, you’ll be much better equipped to evaluate potential job opportunities and avoid roles that aren’t aligned with your needs. Your values and motivators ultimately become your North Star—use them.
2. Reflect + Learn
Transitions are an opportunity to pause and reassess. This step is all about stepping back and looking at your career holistically. Before diving into job boards or reaching out to recruiters, take a moment to reflect on what’s worked for you in your career, what hasn’t worked for you, what you enjoy, what you don’t, and what you truly want.
Ask yourself:
What lessons do I want to carry forward from my past experiences?
What do I want to leave behind?
Who do I want to become in this next phase of my career? (Spoiler alert: You’re allowed to rewrite your story!)
What does success look like to me? (Not just professionally, but holistically.)
I’m big on spotting patterns, so thinking through the above questions helped me be clear about what I wanted to stop, start, and continue as I build the next chapter of my career.
If you’re in a reflecting kind of mood, find inspiration from Warren Berger’s The Book of Beautiful Questions. I like it because it makes me think about things a little differently. Most times, I’m quick to assess, judge, and move on — it’s what makes me a good operator but I’m keenly aware of the fact that I have blindspots. When I’m in a reflective mood, you might just find me turning the pages of The Book of Beautiful Questions.
3. Map Out Your 1-, 3-, and 5-Year Vision
Once you’ve clarified where you are and what you want, it’s time to get specific about your goals. What does success look like in the next year? In three years? In five years? And what do you need to get there?
Here’s the catch: don’t get distracted by areas you think you should improve. Dramatic career growth happens when you lean into your strengths. Your strengths are your differentiators—they’re what make you indispensable. Doubling down on them keeps you indispensable.
For me, leaning into my ability to inspire and lead wasn’t just a strength—it was the thing driving me all along. When I transitioned to coaching, I didn’t have to reinvent myself; I built on what was already there.
Ask yourself:
Where do I want to be in 1, 3, and 5 years?
What opportunities or experiences will help me continue to grow in ways that align with my values and aspirations?
How can I leverage my existing strengths to achieve my goals?
As Harvard Business Review points out:
“People who focus on developing their strengths rather than trying to improve their weaknesses are far more likely to feel engaged and energized at work—and to achieve sustained success in their careers.”
When you map out your milestones and focus on the areas where you already excel, you’ll not only make progress but also differentiate yourself by being intentional.
4. Leverage Your Network
Career transitions don’t happen in a vacuum. They happen through conversations, connections, and the opportunities that pop up from the people you know—or even the people they know.
Don’t overlook the power of weak ties (those second- or third-degree connections). A study cited in The New York Times highlights the impact of weak ties in your career:
“Weak ties are crucial for finding jobs and opportunities because they act as bridges to information and networks that aren’t easily available in our inner circle.”
A quick coffee chat or LinkedIn message to an old colleague, a client, or even a friend of a friend can open doors you didn’t even know existed.
When reaching out, be intentional. Try asking for advice, find common interests — be someone that others want to help. In my own personal experience and based on my clients’ experiences people are often willing to share their perspectives, and those conversations can lead to opportunities down the line. And don’t worry - you can ask for a referral to a job too; be creative and don’t think you are only limited to transactional asks!
Looking for More Inspiration?
I love talking about transitions (obviously!!). Here’s a few of my favorite resources about them, I wrote about knowing when it’s time to quit earlier this year, Winy and I spoke with Lindsey Tramuta (author of The New Paris) on our podcast about her life changing move to Paris, and I did a fireside chat with Athena Alliance about navigating transitions. All linked below:
How to Know When It’s Time to Quit: A reflective guide to help you assess whether it’s time to make a move.
Podcast Episode with Lindsey Tramuta: Lindsey shares her insights on navigating uncertainty and building a life aligned with her values in Paris.
Athena Alliance Blog Post: A tactical roadmap for approaching career transitions with intentionality.
Look — I’ve yet to meet a single soul who is excited about the task of job searching, I get it, it’s challenging. But I’ll offer you this, transitions are also an opportunity to step into something better. With the right tools and mindset, you can make 2025 the year you move closer to the life and career you want.
What could 2025 look like if you ran toward the career you’ve been imagining, instead of away from the one that frustrates you?
Sounds pretty exciting to me :)
I love reflect & learn, thanks for the write up!
My next career move is retirement but I recommend this advice to anyone looking for a change, and, to be frank, it’s also relevant for retirement too.