In sports, halftime serves as a critical opportunity to regroup, evaluate how the game has gone so far, and formulate a revised strategy for the second half. How those few minutes back in a locker room are used for reviewing and resetting can change the outcomes as players find a renewed vigor and purpose for the remaining game.
Professional journeys also need ‘half times’. Sometimes, a break is forced— with unexpected challenges, external shifts, or a major life event like marriage, parenthood, or even an empty nest. Other times, it can be a state of mind— of feeling restless or uninspired. For e.g., A CXO whose company recently went IPO and has both success and wealth thought that he was no longer feeling fulfilled at the current enterprise. Typically, one responds to it by simply solving the issue at hand, but it can be a golden opportunity to think more broadly and see if the current course will yield the results you desire long term.
That’s not all— burnout, a desire to switch industries, ethical misalignment, or simply the need for reinvention can all trigger these halftimes. Such metaphorical halftimes can be a period where you might ask yourself, “What have I achieved, and where am I headed?” Bo Buford’s best-selling book of the same name suggested that a “personal time-out in the game of life is an opportunity to pause and take inventory of what really matters to you to chart an even more meaningful and satisfying second half.”
But what is key to making the ‘half-time pause’ work for you?
1) Recognising the moment and need for change
Acknowledging when a change is necessary can be extremely challenging. You invest a significant amount of time and effort into a particular strategy or approach. For e.g., you may have decided to make a partner at your firm and are committed to the work and the journey that entails. To be successful requires you to be immersed but also makes it difficult to admit when something isn’t working. This could be related to your own strengths and development areas to broader industry/ organisational changes. Commitment to a goal can make you tunnel-visioned. So, it’s important to take a step out, stand apart, and acknowledge the moment/ signs of troubles as they emerge.
For instance, when Satya Nadella took over as CEO of Microsoft in 2014, the company was struggling to stay relevant in a world moving away from personal computers to smartphones and cloud computing. Nadella, who had been at the company for over two decades at this point, could have easily stayed the course and refused to make any radical changes that might taint his tenure as the company’s chief decision-maker. However, he was quick to commit to a cultural and strategic transformation, repositioning Microsoft as a cloud-first company. Moving away from the company’s insular past, he also began to invest heavily in partnerships. This pivot was a risk, but his decisiveness at that critical moment resulted in the company regaining the prominence it had lost.
2) Do an honest audit of the ‘current state’
Data-driven decision-making is a critical enabler of mid-course corrections. This involves examining your strengths, seeking feedback from colleagues to understand what’s working and what isn’t, understanding broader market trends, etc. The more objectively you approach this audit of your journey to date, the better. This is not emotionally easy, and defensiveness creeps in easily. Sometimes, working with a coach who can help you bring objectivity to the process helps. Remember, the process is not one of self-flagellation—it’s about growth. Acknowledging the positives is just as important as identifying areas for change. It keeps you motivated and helps you recognise what’s worth carrying forward in your journey.
3) Build a vision for the future
Sports coaches often invite players to imagine what winning feels like – to build for themselves a sensory experience of the stadium, the cheers, the exhilaration. They believe that having a clear vision of the final goal can serve as a powerful motivator and also help converge efforts. Similarly, draw a vision of what life and job you want for yourself in 5-10 years. Be as detailed as you can – how you will spend your day, where you will live, who your colleagues are, what your office looks like, etc. Defining that vision equips you with a map of where you wish to head and review if your current path will take you there.
4) Reset/ retool as needed
Half-time in sports is the moment when teams can get re-jigged, positions for players can be moved, etc. You have to be open to playing a different game in the second half. Similarly, think of what new skills, capabilities and networks you have to build to make your vision come to life. Then, institute a plan to make that happen. This may involve further education – e.g., a new degree, a side hustle, or just a different approach to managing finances. Remember, this effort may have to work parallel to your present life. While it can feel like an increased workload, having a clear goal can help you stay the course.
By acknowledging the need for change, revisiting and clearly communicating goals, and retooling to stay relevant, you can deftly navigate the complexities of your professional journey. Ultimately, it’s not about how you start the game but how you finish, and halftime adjustments present an opportunity for you to ensure a strong finish!