Push or Pull - Which is more powerful in a successful career change?

Are you being pushed or pulled in your yearning for a new career?

Whether the disenchantment of a career that no longer fits is pushing you to search for something else, or you have a vibrant vision of your perfect work life that’s pulling you towards it, both provide the essential commodity to any change – motivation.

Change requires effort, and the best way to ensure you have the resources of time and energy to bring about the desired transformation is to understand exactly what is driving your need for something different. 

Psychologists, sociologists, educationalists, and HR researchers have all explored human motivation and how we make important choices in our lives. In theories about motivation, I want to focus on two extremes in making a career change:

* repulsion away from an unwanted situation (push)

* attraction towards a desired goal (pull)

On the surface it may look like attraction is going to be the better kind of motivation to ensure a successful outcome, but in reality, most of us need both. Push factors wake us up to what’s wrong, and pull factors help us gain the clarity and momentum to complete the change.

Let’s dive into this a little more and see what this means for a successful change of direction.

Push Motivation

Situation: I can’t stand this job any more, I have to leave!

What are you feeling?

Desperate; sad; overwhelmed; worn down; at the end of your tether; crushed; in the wrong place; ashamed; stressed; you don’t belong; falling short; could do so much more/better; overworked; conflicted; afraid; unsure; defeated.

What are you thinking?

‘If I don’t leave now I never will.’

‘I’m slowly having the life sucked out of me.’

‘This isn’t me.’

‘I’m slowly dying in this job.’

‘This role no longer makes sense.’

‘The role has changed.’

‘I’ve changed.’

‘This conflicts with everything that matters to me.’

‘The salary and security are not worth the anxiety and unhappiness I feel at work.’

‘ I don’t belong with these people or how this organization works.’

‘I must make a stand for myself or I’ll regret it for the rest of my life’

‘I’m a failure here.’

What are you believing?

Leaving your current work is:

·      a matter of survival

·      necessary to clearing space to think

·      essential to preserving who you really are – you’re disappearing

·      essential to your health

·      the only way to have energy and clarity to change things

·      your best choice

·      a matter of self-respect

·      a way of fighting back

Pull Motivation

Situation: I’d love a career in xxxx because it fits my strengths, my values and feels worthwhile. I’d feel alive and fulfilled in this role.

What are you feeling?

Hopeful; excited; energized; clear; willing to take a risk; expansive; ready to grow; a sense of belonging; re-energised; empowered; authentic; certain this is right.

What are you thinking?

‘This is right for me.’

‘I’ll be proud to have a career like this.’

‘I feel alive when I think of this role.’

‘I’m excited to start the learning.’

‘I’m full of energy and creativity.’

‘I’m proud to tell friends and family about this change.’

‘It will be worth the time and effort.’

‘I’m ready to work through all the obstacles because the destination is so me.’

What are you believing?

·      This really is possible

·      It’s a positive step

·      It’s life-affirming

·      It’s taking me in the right direction

·      I know it’s right in my head, my heart an d my gut 

·      I have what it takes to make this change

What’s the difference?

PUSH – often stems from a place of fear; desperation; powerlessness; confusion; or conflict.

On the plus side, it can provide the necessary energy and could be the first step towards a full reevaluation of your working life. 

It can also feel like failure and a brick wall when no future vision for an alternative work life exists.

In psychology the push theory of motivation says this is about escaping pain

PULL – originates from a place of clarity, positivity, energy, and optimism.

When this vision is clear, it provides motivation, energy and the creativity and resilience to develop a flexible strategy and momentum to change direction

In psychology the pull theory of motivation is about the desire to create something better.

In practice

In my own experience, I’ve found both push and pull factors have provided the necessary energy to make big changes in my career – especially when maintaining momentum and answering the question at the heart of the matter:

WHY is this change essential to me?

Without the vision of the desired destination, there may not be sufficient clarity to keep going when obstacles get in the way.

But without the push factors, there may not be enough discomfort to actually get the process started and ask – ‘What else?’

In my career change coaching, I’ve seen clients desperate to leave their current work, and this has pushed them towards help. But the surprising fact is that as the vision of their new direction comes into vivid focus, so too their tolerance for their current unhappy situation increases. They can sustain the discomfort for a limited time because they know where they’re heading next - and WHY.

Without the PULL factors it’s unlikely the next direction will be achieved. 

But without the initial PUSH issues, low-grade dissatisfaction may never reach the pitch required to make a start. This is probably why so many people stay in jobs they really don’t enjoy.

So when it comes to changing careers I advocate getting curious about what is pushing you and start letting your imagination loose on what could be so much better.

A simple list like this could be your first step. Or you can download a worksheet here.

I know change is possible - I see it every day - and clarity makes it so much more likely to happen.

If a second pair of eyes on this would help to start getting your ideas in motion, you can book a free 30-minute career consultation below.