Enabling Career Success As an Emergent Process

In this article, we explore the possibilities that may arise from conceptualizing career success as an emergent process rather than as a cumulative outcome. Doing so is akin to focusing more on whether you are self-actualizing than on whether you have attained self-actualization. We discuss issues you might consider as you answer the overarching question: What would I do to have a more successful career if I thought about it as an emergent process? Specifically, we suggest you start by reflecting on your answers to the following questions: • Am I working in a role and organizational culture that feels right for me? • Have I seriously considered what career success means to me?• Am I being duly recognized and rewarded for my work? • Am I developing myself and my work roles in ways that benefit all concerned? • Am I engaged in mutually supportive relationships at work where I help and am helped by others?• Am I future-proofing my career by anticipating and preparing for career shocks I might encounter? • Do I have a good balance between my work and other aspects of my life? We describe some of the many valuable career concepts and tools that you can apply to answer these questions, with a focus on concepts and tools that are explained in more detail in the other articles in this special issue on Enabling Career Success. We conclude with suggestions regarding how you might apply the career development ideas that resonate with you to enable both your career success, as well as the career success of others