If you're feeling stuck in your career and unsure of how to move forward, the "What, So What, Now What" reflective model may be just what you need. This simple yet powerful tool can help you gain clarity and insight into your career path, by guiding you through three key questions: what, so what, and now what. By answering these questions, you'll be able to identify your strengths, weaknesses, and goals, and create a plan for advancing your career. In this blog post, we'll explore how to use the what so what now what reflective model to take your career to the next level.

Introduction

If you're feeling stuck in your career and unsure of how to move forward, the "What, So What, Now What" reflective model may be just what you need. This simple yet powerful tool can help you gain clarity and insight into your career path, by guiding you through three key questions: what, so what, and now what. By answering these questions, you'll be able to identify your strengths, weaknesses, and goals, and create a plan for advancing your career.

As a mid-career professional, you may have reached a point where you feel like you've hit a plateau in your current job. You may be yearning for new challenges and opportunities, but you're not quite sure how to get there. This is where the "What, So What, Now What" reflective model comes in.

The first question in this model is "what." This is all about understanding where you currently are in your career. It's about taking a step back and examining your current role, responsibilities, and skills. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What tasks do you enjoy and excel at, and which ones do you find draining or unfulfilling? By asking yourself these questions, you'll start to gain a clearer picture of your current situation and what you bring to the table.

Once you have a clear understanding of the "what," it's time to move on to the "so what." This is the reflective stage where you analyse and make sense of the information you gathered in the previous step. What does it mean for your career? What patterns or trends do you notice? Are there any gaps in your skills or knowledge that you need to address? This stage is all about gaining insights and uncovering opportunities for growth and development.

Now that you have a solid understanding of your current situation and have made sense of it, it's time to decide on the "now what." This is where you create a plan of action based on your reflections. What steps do you need to take to advance your career? Are there any training or development opportunities you need to pursue? What goals do you want to set for yourself? This stage is all about mapping out the next steps and committing to taking action.

Understanding the What

When using the "What, So What, Now What" reflective model to advance your career, the first step is to gain a deep understanding of the "what." This involves taking a step back and examining your current role, responsibilities, and skills. It's important to ask yourself questions such as: What are your strengths and weaknesses? What tasks do you enjoy and excel at, and which ones do you find draining or unfulfilling? By reflecting on these aspects, you'll start to gain a clearer picture of your current situation and what you bring to the table.

Understanding the "what" is crucial because it allows you to assess your current skills and experiences and how they align with your desired career goals. This self-awareness is the foundation for taking the necessary steps towards career advancement. By identifying your strengths, you can leverage them to your advantage, positioning yourself as an asset to potential employers or clients. Additionally, recognising your weaknesses enables you to identify areas for improvement and invest in the necessary training or development opportunities.

Another aspect of understanding the "what" is assessing the alignment between your current role and your long-term career aspirations. Does your current job allow you to utilise and develop your core strengths? Is it in line with your values and interests? By reflecting on these questions, you can identify if there are any gaps between your current situation and your career goals. This understanding will help you determine if you need to make a change within your current organisation or explore new opportunities outside of it.

Furthermore, understanding the "what" can also involve evaluating your level of job satisfaction. Are you feeling fulfilled in your current role? Are there any aspects of your job that you find unfulfilling or unchallenging? By identifying these areas, you can start to consider what changes you may need to make to increase your overall job satisfaction. This may involve seeking out new projects or responsibilities, taking on additional training or certifications, or exploring new career paths that align more closely with your passions and interests.

Recognising the So What

Now that you have a clear understanding of your current situation and have reflected on the "what", it's time to move on to the next stage of the "What, So What, Now What" reflective model: the "so what". This is where you analyse and make sense of the information you gathered in the previous step.

During the "so what" stage, it's important to ask yourself questions such as: What does the information you've gathered mean for your career? What patterns or trends do you notice? Are there any gaps in your skills or knowledge that you need to address?

Analysing the "what" stage allows you to gain insights and uncover opportunities for growth and development. By reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses, you can identify areas where you excel and areas where you may need improvement. This self-awareness is crucial for career advancement as it allows you to play to your strengths and work on areas that may be holding you back.

Additionally, during the "so what" stage, it's important to consider the alignment between your current role and your long-term career aspirations. Does your current job allow you to utilise and develop your core strengths? Is it in line with your values and interests? By reflecting on these questions, you can identify if there are any gaps between your current situation and your career goals. This understanding will help you determine if you need to make a change within your current organisation or explore new opportunities outside of it.

Furthermore, the "so what" stage also involves evaluating your level of job satisfaction. Are you feeling fulfilled in your current role? Are there any aspects of your job that you find unfulfilling or unchallenging? By recognising these areas, you can start to consider what changes you may need to make to increase your overall job satisfaction. This may involve seeking out new projects or responsibilities, taking on additional training or certifications, or exploring new career paths that align more closely with your passions and interests.

The "so what" stage is all about making connections and drawing conclusions from the information you've gathered. It's about taking a step back and analysing the bigger picture. By recognising the "so what", you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions and take the necessary steps towards advancing your career.
In the next section, we'll dive into the "now what" stage of the "What, So What, Now What" reflective model, where we'll discuss how to create a plan of action based on your reflections. Stay tuned!

Deciding on the Now What

Now that you have gained a deep understanding of your current situation and have reflected on the "what" and "so what," it's time to move on to the final stage of the "What, So What, Now What" reflective model: the "now what." This is where you create a plan of action based on your reflections and take concrete steps towards advancing your career.

To start the "now what" stage, it's important to clearly define your career goals. What is it that you want to achieve in your career? Do you aspire to reach a higher position within your current organisation? Are you looking to switch industries or pursue a new field altogether? Take the time to think about your long-term aspirations and what steps you need to take to get there.

Once you have defined your goals, break them down into smaller, manageable steps. Identify the specific actions you need to take to reach each goal. For example, if you want to switch industries, you may need to research and network with professionals in the new field, gain relevant certifications or qualifications, and update your CV and LinkedIn profile accordingly. By breaking down your goals into smaller tasks, you can create a clear roadmap for your career advancement.

Next, consider the resources and support you may need along the way. Are there any training or development opportunities you should pursue? Would a mentor or career coach be beneficial in guiding you through this process? Look for ways to leverage your existing network or seek out new connections that can support your career growth.

It's also important to set realistic timelines for achieving your goals. While it's important to have ambition and drive, it's equally important to be realistic about what you can accomplish within a given timeframe. Set specific deadlines for each step of your plan, and regularly reassess and adjust as needed.

Lastly, hold yourself accountable. Once you have created your plan of action, commit to following through and taking the necessary steps towards your career advancement. Share your goals with a trusted friend or colleague who can help keep you on track. Regularly review your progress and make any necessary adjustments along the way.

Remember, advancing your career is a journey, and it requires consistent effort and reflection. The "What, So What, Now What" reflective model can serve as a powerful tool in guiding you through this journey. By taking the time to understand your current situation, make sense of it, and create a plan for the future, you'll be well on your way to taking your career to the next level. Good luck!

Reflection for Continued Success

Now that you've gone through the "What, So What, Now What" reflective model and have taken action towards advancing your career, it's important to emphasise the role of reflection for continued success. Reflection is not just a one-time exercise; it's an ongoing practice that can help you stay on track and adapt as needed.

Reflection allows you to evaluate your progress and make any necessary adjustments along the way. As you take steps towards your career goals, it's important to regularly check in with yourself and assess how things are going. Are you making progress towards your goals? Are there any areas that need improvement? Reflecting on your experiences and actions will help you stay focused and make informed decisions as you move forward.

Another aspect of reflection for continued success is celebrating your achievements. As you accomplish milestones along your career journey, take the time to acknowledge and celebrate your successes. This can help boost your motivation and confidence, and also provide you with a sense of accomplishment. By celebrating your achievements, you're reinforcing the progress you've made and encouraging yourself to keep moving forward.

In addition to celebrating successes, it's also important to learn from your setbacks. Reflecting on challenges and setbacks can provide valuable insights and lessons that can help you grow and improve. Instead of dwelling on failures, view them as opportunities for learning and development. Take the time to analyse what went wrong, identify any patterns or areas for improvement, and use this knowledge to make adjustments in your approach.
Reflection for continued success also involves seeking feedback and learning from others. Take the initiative to gather feedback from mentors, colleagues, or supervisors. Ask for their input on your performance, strengths, and areas for growth. By actively seeking feedback and being open to constructive criticism, you can gain valuable insights that can help you refine your skills and reach your full potential.

Lastly, make reflection a regular habit in your career journey. Set aside dedicated time on a regular basis to reflect on your progress, experiences, and goals. Whether it's daily, weekly, or monthly, find a frequency that works for you and commit to it. Use this time to ask yourself key questions about what's working well, what needs improvement, and what steps you need to take next.

In conclusion, reflection is a vital component of continued success in your career. By regularly reflecting on your progress, celebrating achievements, learning from setbacks, seeking feedback, and making reflection a habit, you'll be able to stay focused, make informed decisions, and continuously grow and advance in your career. So, make reflection a priority and watch as it propels you towards greater success and fulfilment.