Jackhammer or Hummingbird? The Career Framework That Finally Made Me Feel Seen
For years, I dreaded career conversations and personal development plans. I always felt like the only one who didn't know what I wanted to do when I "grew up," so I'd offer some half hearted plan about wanting my boss' job- mostly because I sensed that was what I was supposed to want. It never landed well for anyone, including me.
Then one day, on a walk with a podcast in my ears, I stumbled on an idea that changed everything: the Jackhammer and the Hummingbird. (Credit to Oprah and Elizabeth Gilbert.)
It was one of those rare moments where a light goes on and you want to shout "YES" into the universe. I felt completely seen.
Most workplaces are built for Jackhammers: driven people who set a clear goal and pound away until they hit it. We celebrate them, promote them, and hold them up as the model of success.
But many of the people I know, myself included, have never fit that mold. We're the Hummingbirds. We move from flower to flower, following our curiosity. And here's the thing: Hummingbirds build rich, complex lives, and they become natural cross pollinators. They naturally carry ideas across teams in a way that, when valued, becomes a real asset to any organization.
If you've coached with me or sat in one of my workshops, you've likely heard me talk about both. I love and celebrate them equally. I just don't coach them the same way.
🪽For the Hummingbirds
On personal brand:
Cross pollinating is a gift, but it only becomes a strength when you step back and author your own narrative. What's the red thread that ties it all together? You get to write that story. If you don't, someone else will.
On goals:
Mid-career, a wise manager told me, "Your development plan isn't written in stone. It can change." Simple, but it opened something up in me. I've built on that with my Hummingbird clients ever since. Instead of one single path, we map out three to five. It takes the pressure off while still giving them real goals to pursue, and share with their leaders when the time is right.
This was the unlock to my personal tech career taking off. I stopped apologizing for my style and started embracing the strengths I brought to a team. Mixing my hummingbird with clearer goal planning helped me unlock new levels of career growth I hadn’t known existed.
🔨For the Jackhammers
On goals:
Big goals don't make the work easy. Being a Jackhammer takes real effort, and it requires rest, reflection, and celebrating milestones to stay motivated. I once had a client spend a full year working toward a promotion. When we met right after they got it, they were already onto the next thing. Taking time to look up and celebrate makes the journey more meaningful, not just the destination.
On leading:
Be brief, be bold, be gone. Sound familiar? Jackhammers often expect others to move at their pace. Small talk at the start of a call can feel like a waste of precious time. As a coach, my role is often to create space to slow down and evaluate the path to the goal. What if that small talk built connection that actually moved the project forward? What if the Hummingbird on your team wasn't flaky, just wired differently? Creating space to observe is what allows people to grow.
Every client engagement is different, but I love this lens. My hope is that it helps you lead with a bit more self awareness and empathy, for your team and for yourself.
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