“If Opportunity Doesn’t Knock, Build a Door” – Milton Berle
You have two choices when it comes to advancing your career. You can wait and HOPE that it happens, or you can CREATE the opportunity.
If you choose the first option, waiting and hoping, the only way to get promoted is if someone at a higher level leaves the company. That won’t guarantee you get promoted, though, as there are other, more proactive employees in the organisation, who will likely get promoted ahead of you.
Of course, the best way is to create opportunities for you to get promoted. Here are a few quick tips to help you create your ideal career.
Want Faster Career Growth? Start with These Tips
- Be clear on your outcome: What kind of promotion do you want? What specific position do you want? When do you want it by? What kind of salary do you expect? It’s always best to write a SMART goal for the exact position you would like. It’s also beneficial to think about your PURPOSE. Why do you want this new position? And finally, be sure to focus on your SMART goal every day.
- Add Value: A common misconception is that your tenure at the company determines your promotion. The reality is that the ‘big boss’ is looking to promote people who add value to the organisation, and to be proactive in this area. In other words, what can you do to improve the organisations success? Lead more effectively, increase efficiencies, improve customer support, complete projects, etc. Begin to take action now to improve the business. The bosses will notice.
- Find a Mentor: One of the quickest ways to develop your career is to find a mentor. Find someone willing to share their experiences, skills, and strategies for specific areas that help you grow into your new role. There is no need to start from zero and reinvent the wheel. A mentor, or coach, dramatically accelerates your professional and personal growth.
- Master Delegation: If you’re already a leader and there is a big skill and capability gap between you and your subordinates, it will be more difficult for you to get promoted. Who will be responsible for your previous role in your absence? So be sure to master the art of effective delegation. If someone in your team CAN do your current job, you are freer to grow to the next level.
- Continued Learning: If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten. The surest way to grow to the next level is to invest in yourself. Any new learning, tools, and strategies you learn stay with you for LIFE!! There are 100s of ways to continue your learning journey. Read books, TED talks, YouTube, seminars, workshops, mentoring, masterminds, audiobooks, online courses, etc. And with whatever you learn, be sure to PRACTICE it. Knowledge alone won’t help you grow. Knowledge and its application will accelerate your growth.
Continuous growth is the surest way to find happiness and fulfillment in your career. There are many other ways to accelerate your growth, and we hope these few tips assist you on your journey.
Advance your career by working smarter, building influence, and making intentional moves. Take the next step in your career today.
