The Best Career Move I’ve Made

When I made the move to work in Local Government as a Corporate Strategic Planner at Northern Beaches Council I was certain it was a two year gig to get particular experience I needed and then I was heading back to the corporate world to return to the world of Corporate Social Responsibility and community impact once more. Almost five years on, it’s turned out to be the best career move I’ve ever made. 

I will admit I entered Council with fairly low expectations - Local Government isn’t particularly known for having a great reputation and it felt like a step back from the corporate world - what I found though was a group of talented people, passionate about making a difference in their local area, while also prioritising their family and personal well-being. 

I’ve been clear for years on the values important to my career: Serving others and society, life balance, challenging work, learning and personal development, social interaction, creativity, variety, advancement and initiative. The first four are core values that can’t be compromised. The remaining career values reflect the environment I need to thrive. So what has this actually looked like in action?

Core career values:

• Serving others and society - It’s imperative for me to feel I am making a difference through my work. At Council I’ve had the opportunity to lead the development of the 20-year Community Strategy Plan for our local area and as a local resident I enjoy seeing the direct impact of Council’s work everyday. The diverse services Council provides all serve to make our community a better place.
• Life balance - Work must support my personal priorities and aspirations. Working close to home has meant I could join a local running group with an incredible group of women and have the capacity to train for and complete an ultramarathon. I’ve also been able to spend more time with my kids and continue my non-profit leadership involvement, while starting my own leadership and performance coaching business (Your Leading Edge) and managing post-graduate study. 
• Challenging work - It’s key for me to feel stimulated by the work I’m doing. In Local Government we work on wicked problems, trying to balance the diverse (and often conflicting) needs of all residents. At Northern Beaches Council we work towards achieving our community’s vision - “a safe, diverse, inclusive and connected community that lives in balance with our extraordinary coastal and bushland environment”. 
• Learning and personal development - It’s essential for me to learn and grow through my work. Last year I was awarded the Stephen Ward Scholarship by the Chief Executive Team to put $10,000 towards completing the Australian Institute of Management’s Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Strategy. Two subjects down, two to go!

Supporting career values:

• Creativity - The ability to be creative in solving problems and driving projects. 

• Social interaction - Interacting with others daily through my work. 

• Variety - I love working on a variety of projects and initiatives.
• Advancement - The opportunity to advance through my career. 
• Initiative - I love identifying aspects our team could improve for our organisation and having the support and autonomy to take action. . 

When your values are aligned in your career, you feel more energised and are able to thrive to deliver your best work and perform at a high level in both your professional and personal life. 

Leading into maternity leave, I can honestly say I have enjoyed the best chapter of my professional career. In addition to the above achievements, I initiated ‘Drive Your Career’ Workshops to enhance career development across Council, leading 10 workshops for over 75 staff, specifically helping my colleagues to identify their own career values, assess if their work is currently in alignment with the values and create an action plan to support their development.  

Here’s to all my fellow Local Government colleagues this Local Government Week! 

And if you want to follow the framework I’ve developed to identify your career values and create an action plan to thrive through your work, let me know and I’ll share it with you!