Portfolio Careers

The global recession changed our fundamental view of the economic background to our lives and, as a result, prompted people across the career spectrum to re-define their priorities and re-think their jobs and lives.

Young people have seen that jobs can disappear overnight, and graduates have realised that their education is not a passport to employment. Those in their 30s and 40s have seen how quickly life can change in the corporate world and want to take more control over their work and lives, while those leaving corporate life after a full career are looking forward to perhaps 20 active years ahead of them, which they want to fill with a range of activities.

All these changes have helped accelerate the trend towards "portfolio" careers, first predicted by management guru Charles Handy some 20 years ago. He described a portfolio as a range of activities: "some we do for money, some for interest, some for pleasure, some for a cause… the different bits fit together to form a balanced whole."

Building A Portfolio Career

While the rewards of portfolio living can be great, making the transition from corporate life to that of an entrepreneur with a portfolio of roles can be challenging and complex. It demands different skills from those used and honed in a full-time corporate career. Executives are used to an organisation, an office, a structure, meetings, colleagues. In the new entrepreneurial role, they have to self start every aspect of their business. By planning the change and having a coach to support and advise right through the transition period, the executive can successfully get established in running his/her own business.

Our coaching programme is in three stages, which can be undertaken in separate parts. It offers guidance in deciding a future portfolio, practical advice, and full coaching support for up to 12 months when making the transition.

Our programme is supported by 'Building A Portfolio Career', the authoratative guidebook to becoming a Portfolio Professional, co-authored by Success Group director Adrian Bourne. It helps coachees decide their future career in the context of where they are now and where they want to be, guides them through the transition and provides advice on setting up a business.

The key benefits of the Programme are:

• One stop shop to answer all questions regarding transition to entrepreneur or portfolio life
• Focus of time on what the executive does best
• Coaching to expand the vision of opportunities, exploring options, deciding route
• Planned transition to portfolio working, building current and future relationships

There's more in the book "Building A Portfolio Career" at http://www.portfolioprofessionals.org/thebook.htm

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