5 Ways to Ensure Your Global Health Career Contributes To Global Health Impact
Over the next 15 years, the degree to which the careers of global health professionals are successful, will determine whether the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are achieved or not. How do I know? Because for the last 25 years I have seen the efforts of global health professionals contribute to the advancement of global health goals such as Health for All (HFA) by the year 2000 and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the year 2015.
I have trained health professionals from over 80 countries, taught professionals in all career stages – from young graduate students to experienced professionals, and coached global health professionals. Most struggle to reach their career goals yet are satisfied that their work makes a difference because they all have one thing in common; they want to save lives, make a difference, and help others. However, global health goals still remain unachieved and health professionals struggle to find the right job, work with the right tools, and implement solutions using their strengths and the right skills. In short, they lack a career development plan and the skills to implement it. They need assistance to overcome challenges and bottlenecks and make the best of all the resources and information available. They need focus, confidence and a clear career plan that will allow them to apply all they know to do their share assisting with the achievement of global health goals. Then they will become leaders and experts in their field and actually see the results and impact if their work.
I know. I was frustrated in the ‘90s (yes, I am dating myself…) when I could not deliver sustainable results or ensure that my work was contributing to achieve HFA. That is when I learned that the way to succeed is by helping others succeed, and created the approach and tools to help myself and then others do their share of global impact. So based on my career of over 25 years, here is my advice to you:
- Set career goals for that fit your needs and wants. Use your carefully worded goals to map your career. The career map will help you develop your career development plan and focus your career by knowing where you are now and what you want to achieve; and yes, be known for. Even if you are a new professional, you can become known for a unique way of solving a problem and expand the influence and impact you make in global health. The career map will help you gain confidence because you will have clear direction.
- Know your strengths and use them to move forward. Don’t be modest. Know what you are good at and let people know that you can be a valuable member of a team. No, do not boast, but communicate your strengths with clear examples that “unpack” your experience and show what you can do.
- If you have not done so yet, start a career journal. All scientists record their work; you should do it too. I record what results I am getting, what difficulties I encounter and how I will address them. I also record everything that works well and for which I am grateful, and what work I do with the people that support me, and whom I help. Some days I write a few words, some days a couple of pages, and other days nothing. But I keep moving forward, which is what matters.
- Have a coach that can be your boss, a trusted colleague or a professional that is trained to be a coach and can ask you the right questions, give you right support when you need it, and keep you accountable for your progress. Nobody succeeds alone. We all need a team of people that help us along the way.
- Get inspired and motivated every day. It is easy to get “stuck” in the everyday work and go through the motions or just do what your boss tells you to do. Instead, start your day everyday by looking at the SDG graphic above, and think of where you will be in 2030. What will you have accomplished by then? Where will you be working, or what kind of work you will be doing? Think of how what you are doing now is on the path towards that vision. If not, take action now. Trust your vision. That vision will keep you going towards important and sustainable achievements and is what makes our global careers worthwhile. I promise.
I hope you join me for our upcoming Career Development Webinar where I will explain the career stages global health professionals go through and how to develop a new career plan that makes the best of your unique talents and passion for global health goals and sustainable development.
To receive more information about the upcoming webinar, sign up for the RGH Update.
