Taking Control: Steering a Career Path with Whole-Person Intelligence
Things were going well for Stephanie in her job when she started to complete her profile on the tru® platform. She had flourished early in the year – even logging a Peak Experience from an ambitious, impactful project she'd delivered.
However, several months later things had shifted. As she prepared for her year-end check-in with her direct supervisor, Stephanie recognized that her early enthusiasm had waned. She could not quite put her finger on what was missing, so she set up time with her tru Certified Coach to prepare for her upcoming discussion with her boss.
Upon closer review of Stephanie's truSelf Portrait, it was obvious that several of the roles, values, needs, and most-satisfying skills that had energized her work for the first six months of the year were no longer present in her day-to-day responsibilities. Together they developed a series of offers and requests she could discuss with her boss that would allow Stephanie to better leverage her Achievement DNA and increase her organizational impact. She entered the discussion well prepared and confident.
Coming out of the discussion, however, Stephanie felt less empowered and more uncertain about her future on the team. Her manager was receptive to some of her requests but was lukewarm about her taking on more strategic work and put the onus on Stephanie to identify the opportunities. The reality was that the context surrounding her current role had shifted, unbeknownst to her, due to organizational changes beyond either of their control. A skip-level meeting revealed general support and openness for Stephanie doing more ambitious work for the right projects. "I appreciated the willingness to work with me," Stephanie reflected, "but I also realized that the work that energized me the most was beyond what my current position could offer. Having that clarity—knowing exactly what I needed, the “why”, and how to articulate it—made that realization less scary and more empowering.”
Several months later, a job posting appeared at an organization whose mission aligned very strongly with Stephanie's values. The description appeared to be broader in scope than her current job, and it seemed to align with the environment factors that would allow Stephanie to thrive. As she prepared for the interview, she had examples ready to demonstrate her natural strengths, and the questions she asked of her interviewers reflected a clear picture of what she was looking for in the workplace of her choosing.
"The hiring manager shared with me after I got the offer that what set me apart was how intentional I was about my career," Stephanie said. "I wasn't just looking for any job. I knew what I needed to do my best work, and I could articulate why this role and organization were the right fit. The tru platform provided me with clarity that gave me the courage to advocate for myself and find a much better environment for me to thrive."
Her new manager echoed this sentiment: "Stephanie stood out immediately. She asked questions that showed she'd done deep work understanding herself and what she brings to a team. Most candidates focus solely on what they can do. Stephanie showed us who she is and what conditions allow her to thrive. That level of self-awareness is rare and incredibly valuable."
Today, Stephanie credits tru not just for helping her land the right role, but for giving her a framework she continues to use to navigate her career with intention and authenticity.
