Here's how you can use Servant Leadership principles to navigate a career change.

Changing your career path is can be challenging and daunting especially if you do not have a good transition strategy. So the first thing I will suggest for anyone embarking on a career change is to develop a practical and feasible plan. This involves creating a vivid picture of where you want to go, how you think it should look like when you finally achieved this career transition and other details around this. Then create a plan on how to move from where you are now to where you intend to be based on your goal and plan. You do not need to have everything figured out, but the must also be that element of knowing what you really want and an idea of how to achieve that.

Before diving in, truly understand yourself. What motivates you? What skills do you want to leverage? Servant leaders listen intently to their inner voice to guide their path.

Change comes with a lot of uncertainty and awkwardness. So the way to reduce these two ugly headed monsters is to go for knowledge. The more you know about your new field the more clearer the path and destination becomes and then the more comfortable you become at boldly seeing and taking the chance and the opportunities along the way. So keep sharpening the edges of your axe 🪓 to keep navigating the new terrain of your new field. Continuous and never ending improvement has no substitute in navigating changes in life and in changing your career path.

Upskill for your new career! Take courses, network with experts, and seek mentors. Servant leaders proactively invest in their own development to excel in their desired field.

Leadership is communal in nature and so changing ones career path should be approached from a community standpoint. Your network is your real worth, it's a revelation of how far you can go in your new field. So you need to build a strong community around yourself in navigating the new career path you have chosen and this will help mitigate and reduce the level of uncertainty and awkwardness associated with your new field. Your network will provide the support system needed for your smooth transitioning make this process seamless for you. It will also push you further in this new career as you don't only take or receive from your network, your contribution to this network then bring about the network effect in your new career path.

Connect with people in your target industry. Attend events, join online communities, and offer your help. Servant leaders build bridges and learn from those already on the path you seek.

Empathy is the demonstration of you social intelligence towards yourself and others. There is no leadership without empathy. Change also becomes meaningless if the touch of empathy is missing. So, seeing that the more you know, the more you realise what you don't know and how much you still need to lead should drive you to giving yourself and other people around you more grace, kindness and become much more compassionate. Not learning to be more empathetic with yourself and those around you especially when changing career will only lead to a self sabotage. You will become the main hindrance to your own progress, the primary torn in your own flesh and the major opposition in navigating and reaching your desired end.

Transitioning is tough! Understand colleagues in your current role who may be impacted by your move. Communicate openly and offer support during your departure.

You cannot be truly empathetic and not be authentic or ethical. Authenticity and ethics should be your watchword and serve as a guide in navigating your transitioning process. This will help you to maximise your potential in this new field.

Leave your current role on a positive note. Fulfill your commitments, ensure a smooth handover, and maintain strong relationships. Servant leaders prioritize ethical conduct throughout their career journey.

Experiences in both successes and failures are meaningless for personal growth if without regular reflection. Reflecting on experiences reveals strengths and weaknesses, enables a person to understand themselves better to plan strategically for self-development and guides future decision-making.

Regularly assess your progress. Are you on the right track? Servant leaders embrace self-reflection and course-correction when needed to ensure their career change aligns with their goals.

Serve Your Industry: Look for ways to contribute your skills and knowledge to the new field before landing a formal role. This demonstrates passion and initiative. Lead with Humility: Acknowledge what you don't know and be open to learning from others. A servant leader's strength lies in continuous growth.