{"id":11429,"date":"2024-09-05T07:52:57","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T11:52:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/?p=11429"},"modified":"2025-10-30T11:36:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T15:36:10","slug":"greatif-blog-3-career-sustainability-practical-linkedin-strategies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/blog\/greatif-blog-3-career-sustainability-practical-linkedin-strategies\/","title":{"rendered":"Achieving Career Sustainability & Practical LinkedIn Strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
According to professional coach and keynote speaker Monique Valcour, PCC, PhD<\/a>, there are four key elements to creating a sustainable career: alignment, ongoing learning, self-care, and adaptability.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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First is \u201calignment\u201d \u2013 ensuring that our work is in alignment with our core interests, strengths, and values. According to Gallup research, people who intentionally use their strengths are three times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life and six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs (Gallup<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second is immersion in ongoing learning and renewal. In line with Maslow\u2019s self-actualization principle, it\u2019s when we aspire to fulfill our potential and optimize our effectiveness that we achieve our highest self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third element, self-care, involves deliberate efforts to nurture our emotional and physical well-being while cultivating deep, energizing relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Valcour discusses the importance of adaptability as a core skill that enables us to pivot, refocus, and reimagine ourselves in response to shifting external circumstances. Especially in today\u2019s VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world, being nimble and agile is essential for ensuring professional resilience and fostering continued growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In discussing success towards achieving sustainable careers, Valcour underscores the importance of making progress towards things that are meaningful to us.  To make progress, it\u2019s crucial that we set specific goals as well as actionable steps for achieving those goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you look back to significant moments in your personal and professional journey, do you recognize the presence of these four elements in those experiences? If not, what steps can you take now to integrate them more fully into your life and career?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s an actionable checklist juxtaposed against each key ingredient in Valcour\u2019s recipe for sustainable careers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alignment<\/strong>
Identify core strengths, interests, and values using personal SWOT analysis<\/a><\/td>		Lifelong Learning<\/strong>
Explore new knowledge and skills
Leverage network to wayfind \u2013 ask questions, seek feedback, offer value<\/td><\/tr>
Self Care<\/strong>
Make time for things that energize you
Set boundaries to avoid overwhelm
Invest in meaningful relationships (as self-awareness crystalizes through our conversations with others)<\/td>		Adaptability<\/strong>
Be comfortable with uncertainty
Reframe uncertainty as an opportunity for learning<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

LinkedIn is a phenomenally helpful yet underutilized tool for those interested in building sustainable careers for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n