At a glance
Updated 6 February 2024
A successful career today requires strategy, tactics and decisions timed at key moments of the journey. The speakers in these TED and TEDx Talks share their thoughts on how to make work more meaningful and have a great career.
1. Navigating career turbulence
All careers experience turbulence, and the trick is to navigate it to advantage. Sometimes, however, it may be better to chart a new course rather than push hard against the headwinds.
Organisational psychologist Adam Grant discusses people who have taken unusual steps as they battled career uncertainty and rethought their approach to landing the next job.
TED Talk, Adam Grant: Work-Life – Navigating career turbulence
2. How to get back to work after a career break
At some point in their careers, many people may opt to “relaunch” their career by returning to the workforce after a lengthy break. Career re-entry expert Carol Fishman Cohen argues that “relaunchers” are equipped with special motivation and skills.
She offers advice to both relaunchers and employers on how this phenomenon can work for everyone. First up, she says, don’t be too proud to take an internship.
TEDxBeaconStreet, Carol Fishman Cohen: How to get back to work after a career break
3. Can you be yourself at work?
Many people separate their professional and personal lives, which means hiding aspects of their personalities at work. This can lead to feeling stuck and aimless, with the disconnect undermining motivation.
Management consultant Linden Vazey explains how to rethink traditional metrics of workplace success to perform at a high level while still being true to oneself.
TEDxUOA, Linden Vazey: Can you be yourself at work?
4. Know your worth, and then ask for it
Many people undersell themselves and their products and service, to the detriment of their remuneration and bottom line. Instead of being paid what they’re worth, people tend to get paid what employers or customers think they are worth.
Experienced pricing consultant Casey Brown shares stories to help explain ways that people can communicate their value better and ensure they get paid fairly for their performance.
TEDxColumbusWomen, Casey Brown: Know your worth, and then ask for it
5. Great leadership is a network, not a hierarchy
While many organisations may talk about implementing a structure with multiple leaders, many tend to maintain the traditional hierarchies. Management consultant Gitte Frederiksen advocates instead for “distributed leadership”, which is based on dynamic and multi-dimensional networks.
Distributed leadership, says Frederiksen, can help into the knowledge and creativity of employees throughout the team, enabling teams to do more and do it better.
TED Talk, Gitte Frederiksen: Great leadership is a network, not a hierarchy
6. Why specialising early doesn’t always mean career success
Professionals are often told that they need to specialise to succeed, but journalist David Epstein challenges that notion with his view that specialising too early can hinder long-term career development.
Epstein explains the benefits of a career “sampling period” where people try new things and build a range of skills. This, he says, can ultimately be more fulfilling.
TEDxManchester, David Epstein: Why specializing early doesn't always mean career success
7. 4 tips to future-proof your career
As evolving technology transforms businesses, it has become likely that people will have several jobs and potentially career changes throughout their working lives.
Workplace strategist Michelle R. Weise offers advice on how to identify the skills and talents to survive and thrive through career changes.
TED Talk, Michelle R. Weise: The Way We Work – 4 tips to future-proof your career
8. The way we think about work is broken
The current way of thinking about work ignores its intangible value and reduces it down to a pay cheque, says psychologist Barry Schwartz. Managers need to stop thinking of workers as cogs on a wheel and instead help them find meaning and value in their work.
Making a living is not the only reason people work, Schwartz says. Work should also challenge, engage and provide a purpose.
TED Talk, Barry Schwartz: The way we think about work is broken
9. The best career path isn’t always a straight line
Career consultants Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper advocate for the “squiggly” career – the idea that career paths should be dynamic, open-ended and tailored for individual talents and passions.
In this radical rethink of the traditional linear career path, workers should focus not on their next job, but about their future career possibilities.
TEDxLondonWomen, Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper: The best career path isn't always a straight line
10. Looking for a job? Highlight your ability, not your experience
It has become increasingly rare for people to find a career directly aligned with their university studies, and many people have diverse work histories. This can make job seeking tougher when employers ask them about their experience in a specific field.
Entrepreneur and executive coach Jason Shen explains how job seekers can make themselves more attractive by highlighting their ability rather than their credentials. He also suggests that employers should be more flexible in evaluating people’s potential.
TED Talk, Jason Shen: Looking for a job? Highlight your ability, not your experience
