Designing academic career trajectories: identifying internal assets and evaluating external challenges.

Abstract

When I joined the Society of Behavioral Medicine's Mid-Career Leadership Institute in 2016, I was at an academic crossroads where my motivation to pursue a research career was waning. Specifically, I was challenged in obtaining funding for my unique research focus, and by the loss of institutional mentors and sponsors. In this commentary, I describe how I utilized components of the SBM Leadership Institute, specifically executive coaching and peer mentorship, as well as introspection to identify career trajectories that align with my internal motivations, as well as acknowledge dynamics in my scholarship area and at my institution. By specifying several concrete possibilities for career advancement that are both personally meaningful and institutionally practical, I have been better able to focus my scholarly pursuits and seek out leadership positions. In general terms, the leadership institute helped me to evaluate my own internal assets (e.g., skills and passions), to critically examine trends in my area of scholarship, and to delineate alternative career pathways. In my view such periodic introspection and evaluation is critically important for maintaining a fulfilling academic career.