Are you performing in your "power alley?" One of my clients used this term recently and I had to admit that it was something I had not heard of before. Ever the curious consultant, I asked her to explain "power alley" to me. She stated that, your power alley is a job that fits you so well, that success is inevitable. Back in my office, I looked up this term on the Internet and discovered that it has its origins in baseball. Power alley is the location on the field where a batter drives the ball with the most power, typically the left-centerfield and right-centerfield gaps. So, are you operating in your power alley? Are you currently in a job that allows you to make your most significant contributions? If not, how do you determine the type of job where you could hit the ball with the most power?

Career consultants and psychologists have known for years that there are three important elements involved in career success: aptitude, interests and personality. To consistently operate in your power alley requires personally evaluating these elements from time to time. Take a few minutes to determine if it's now is the time for you to make the necessary changes to contribute at the highest level, to be in your power alley.

1. Aptitude
   Do you perform the core tasks and responsibilities of your current job with a natural ease or do you continuously find yourself pushing against the grain? How do you stack-up against your colleagues? Be honest, are you one of the best at what you do or are your strengths better suited to another type of work? The flip side of aptitude analysis occurs when your strengths are superior to what the job requires. This can lead to what Fast Company magazine ("Routing Rust-Out," January 2004) calls "Rust-Out." The article suggests that Rust-out is most common among older workers - middle managers who have run out of gas. But there's another group suffering rust-out in this economy: young, over-qualified workers stuck at first base in undemanding jobs.

   If you are truly puzzled about your strengths and weaknesses consider arranging for aptitude testing. The Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation in Boston is one of many resources available for this purpose. They may also be able to direct you to similar organizations in your area. Don't neglect this important power alley component. It is difficult, if not impossible, to succeed when your aptitudes do not fit your job.

2. Interests
   You may have all the aptitude in the world, but if the work does not excite you then you will not operate in your power alley. A job that was exciting and challenging for a period of time can eventually become boring and routine. You may still have the aptitude and personality traits necessary to do well, but your interests have changed.

   A number of years ago, much to my surprise, I discovered that my career interests had suddenly changed. I had been passionate about my job as human resource manager for twelve years, but now wanted to move into management development. The shift in interest was too strong to ignore. I took steps to transition into my new career field and soon moved into my first of several manager of training jobs. I'm convinced that if I had not paid attention to my instincts, my performance as a human resource manager would have suffered. I would no longer be operating in my power alley. My aptitude and personality had not changed, but my interests had evolved significantly. Do you still have the passion for your work that you had three years ago? What would it be like to have the excitement of a "beginner" again? Set aside some private time to think about this. You might be surprised at what you learn.

3. Personality
   So you've nailed the aptitude and interests necessary to be in your power alley, but is your personality suited to your work? My old graduate school textbooks define personality as, The unique pattern of traits, which characterizes the individual. If your job requires the ability to influence others through persuasion and your preference is to work back in the lab, it might be difficult for you to perform at the highest levels. If you prefer to work alone and your job requires getting things done through teams, then you will also be going playing outside of your power alley.

   If you suspect that your personality is not particularly well suited to your current job, then you may benefit from taking the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. This survey will give you valuable insights regarding your personality and its relationship to job success. Your corporate human resource manager can probably help you get access to this survey. If you are unemployed, ask your local State Division of Employment and Training for help. These state organizations are also a valuable resource for aptitude and interest testing. Selecting work that is a good fit for your personality can turn what is a chore for others into an exciting challenge.

I know that you want to be successful and to find your own power alley. If you are confused about where to begin, ask yourself the following three questions:

• If money were not an important consideration, what kind of work would you do?
• Which of your work responsibilities tasks energizes you the most?
• What do you do better than most? What do people come to you for as the go to person?

Recommended Reading:

Even a Geek Can Speak- Low-Tech Presentation Skills For High-Tech People by Joey Asher, Longstreet Press Inc., Paperback, 2001. If you are an engineer, accountant, physician or software developer, then this book can be a wonderful resource for you. Unlike other books on presentation skills, this book uses examples from a variety of technical disciplines. The author offers particularly good advice on presenting to non-technical audiences. There is even a chapter devoted to making a pitch to venture capitalists. You may be quiet and reserved, but you don't have to be uninspiring in your presentations.