As we approach year-end, many corporate managers will soon find themselves engaging in career and performance discussions with their teams. It’s not uncommon for these exercises to trigger a sense of career insecurity or rivalry, creating a tense atmosphere in the workplace. However, it does not have to be this way. There are ways to make such conversations less awkward and more productive, offering employees much more than upward mobility along a proverbial ladder.
One such approach is called the Ikigai Framework, originating from a Japanese concept known as ‘ikigai’, or ‘reason for being’. Ikigai focuses on authentic, purpose-orientated conversations, allowing for a deeper understanding of your team members. Unlike traditional career path discussions, which often gravitate toward corporate progression and role-specific expertise, the Ikigai Framework explores four key personal aspects: what you’re good at, what you love, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for.
Encouraging this holistic view allows managers to gain insight into areas outside of an individual’s current role, creating a two-way dialogue that often elicits a fuller picture of a person’s skills, aspirations, and potential contributions to the world. This approach is not static, it’s a dynamic framework that can evolve as an individual’s skills grow, tastes change, and as the world adapts to new developments, like advancements in Artificial Intelligence.
Another benefit of the Ikigai Framework is its ability to provide an alternative perspective of career progression. Unlike conventional career ladders, it provides a rounded view that focuses on upward movement, lateral transitions, and even potential opportunities outside the current company.
Careers are rarely straightforward, and changes of direction shouldn’t necessarily be seen as contrary to progression; rather, evidence of personal and professional growth. Building an understanding of this can help manage expectations, ease career progression discussions, and ultimately result in a more contented and productive workforce.
Learn more about implementing the Ikigai Framework in career discussions by reading the article by Rob Chesnut, former general counsel and chief ethics officer at Airbnb and accomplished author, who provides an eloquent and personal elaboration on this valuable approach.