Liminal Space in Career Conversations
Jul 21, 2021
A keynote address summary, given at the Asia Pacific Career Development Conference, May 2021
Liminal: from the Latin root “limen” (threshold)
Liminal space is a crossing over space. A space where something has been left behind, yet you are not yet fully in something else. It is a space of transition. This is a type of space that everybody experiences in some way or another. Everybody has experienced, and is currently experiencing liminality. Career conversations often take place in liminality. One’s sense of hopefulness impacts the way we experience the uncertainty that liminality brings. The Hope-Action Theory introduces us to core competencies that contribute to one’s sense of hope. These competencies can also provide an additional layer of awareness as we consider the experiences being in liminal space brings to career conversations.
In career development we’re often working towards goals, but when you’re in liminal space, you’re often not sure what that goal is. It can be uncomfortable to look out at the uncertainty that frequently exists in career conversations and difficult to know how to create a vision about what will be happening when you don’t have a clearly defined goal. This can be a common experience working with clients when they come in and have no idea of what to do next. Working in liminality requires an acceptance of uncertainty and a shift away from goal focused intervention. It's a shift from problem-solving to possibility thinking. When we look at the many ways we put structures around career conversations it's important to hold structures lightly, being present with clients, offering support in a way that is meaningful for them, being aware of doing career coaching with a client, not to a client.
As you consider liminality from both the client and coach perspectives, what experiences of liminality can you identify?
When working with liminality It is essential that we take into account both the client’s experience and that of the career coach. Both parties may be experiencing some sense of uncertainty and bewilderment with regard to specific career goals. It is not uncommon for career coaches to be “lost for words”, not knowing quite what to say in response to the client's dilemma. Perhaps the starting point is not to say anything about career goals, just to sit with the client in the uncertainty and to trust that in this relationship the way forward will unfold.
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