Why You Need To Pay Attention To The Tangential

Too often, we get tunnel vision as we focus solely on our career path and what’s in front of us.

But we need to pay attention to the tangential.

There are incredible opportunities around us, but seeing them requires opening up and paying attention to what’s happening in the periphery.

We’ve all heard people say they can’t take on a new project or join a team because they are so heads down in their work. But in the new world of work, you can’t afford to be heads down and oblivious to what’s happening around you. You need to pay attention to the tangential. That means being heads up, heads side to side, and even heads behind you.

Paying attention to the tangential opens doors to take new paths, innovate, and stay ahead of the rapidly changing world of work.

Here are three ways to pay attention to the tangential:

1. Talk with relevant people in your space. Start a conversation with colleagues and managers, both in your company and across the industry. Build connections and find out what these people are paying attention to and what they see coming down the road. Having relevant discussions will help you better grasp the big picture.
2. Create a skills path, not a career path. Skills are more valuable than jobs. Jobs are linear and meant to be automated, but skills create opportunities and make you a valuable asset to any team. Consider the skills you need to develop and how you can apply your current skills to other areas. A skills path keeps you moving forward and constantly learning and improving.
3. Ask yourself three questions. Are my skills in demand? What is the outlook of my skills? What skills can I work on today that will increase my income potential in the future? Regularly asking yourself these questions will help you figure out where to focus your time and energy.

Paying attention to the tangential is crucial in the new world of work. We can no longer have tunnel vision and stick to a linear path. We have to remove our blinders and be willing to learn and move into new areas to find success and lead the future.

I put together a video which talks about this in more detail. Please check it out below and if you want more content like this you can subscribe to my Youtube channel.

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