Career Anchors
Career Anchors
"Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." –Confucius
As per Gallup’s State of Global Workplace Report, “85% of employees are not actively engaged or (are) actively disengaged at work.” This has a huge impact on the company's performance. Studies have shown that Highly engaged teams show 21% greater profitability. Peter Drucker, in his famous book “Management Challenges for the 21st Century”, in the chapter on “Managing oneself”, mentions the importance of identifying where you belong. Most HR professionals do their best to match the role fitment, but most often, they do not produce the required outcome.
Edgar Schein's work on Career Anchors explores the fundamental elements that guide an individual's career decisions and development. Career Anchors are self-concepts that integrate a person's competencies, motives, and values. Schein identified eight types: (1) Technical/Functional Competence, (2) Autonomy, (3) Challenge and Risk, (4) Entrepreneurial Creativity, (5) General Management, (6) Service/Dedication to a Cause, (7) Security/Stability, (8) Life-Work Integration. Each anchor reflects a primary area in which individuals are unwilling to give up, and this significantly influences their career choices and satisfaction.
A short overview of Career Anchors. You can plot them on a spider graph and there is an online assessment of Career Anchors as well.
Mark nearer the centre of the career anchor's description does not feel like it is you, and further from the centre if it feels more or totally like you.
(1) Technical/Functional Competence
You want to get better and better in your area of competence and would prefer your work to be remain in that area of competence.
(2) Autonomy
Strong need to do things on your own, free of the constraints and rules that characterize most organisation and work projects.
(3) Challenge and Risk
You thrive on tackling the seemingly unsolvable problems, to winning out over tough opponents, or even overcoming difficult obstacles. You enjoy novelty, variety, and difficult puzzles.
(4) Entrepreneurial Creativity
You have a need to create an organization or enterprise of your own, built on your own creative abilities and your own willingness to take risks and overcome obstacles.
You measure yourself by the size of the enterprise and it’s sucess.
(5) General Management
You have a desire to manage broadly and pull together the various elements of an organsation or project.
You want to be responsible and accountable for total results .
(6) Service/Dedication to a Cause
You want your occupation and your daily work mean something of significance to you.
You pursue socially meanigfull work.
(7) Security/Stability
Normally, the lack of this shows up as a concern. Your career choices are influenced by Employment stability, Financial security, Medical benefits, Pension and retirement plans
(8) Life-Work Integration
Your desire to balance the demands of work, family and taking care of yourself. You feel that your identity is more tied up with how you live your total life.
Understanding one's Career Anchor helps in making informed career decisions aligned with personal strengths and values.
References
- Forbes
- Gallup https://www.gallup.com/workplace/236927/employee-engagement-drives-growth.aspx
- Career Anchors Reimagined - Edgar Schein
