Everyone says career growth is important, but few offer real insight into what it means. In my opinion, the only roles we may get based on pure potential are internships or entry-level roles; after that, it’s all about demonstrated capability, especially for promotion. Yes, mentors and advisors can provide incredible insights, but as the owner of your career, you have the ultimate say in your career goals. And no, success doesn’t equate to promotion; it’s based on your desires and how you want to leverage your knowledge, skills, and abilities. I have three considerations as you begin to chart your unique path to success.
Prioritize your growth: Take time to clarify your skill set. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Then develop a plan to become proficient. While we often rely on training, I’ll be honest: you may be able to find exposure opportunities to help close skill gaps. For instance, there are professional associations for just about every career field. These associations provide resources, tips and tools for current and future career field requirements.
Focus on your impact: What you accomplish is just as important as how you accomplish it. I consider what has always been called “soft skills” to be “power skills.” These include communication, teamwork, accountability, problem-solving, adaptability, emotional intelligence and leadership. Finding opportunities to advance your power skills isn’t always obvious, but working on team projects or organizational initiatives is a great way to build this skill set. Also, take some personal time to read leadership articles or books and dedicate yourself to practicing one element from your reading. My power skills have been sharpened by the books The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith. I didn’t just read these books; I put the theories into practice and sharpened my power skills.
Seek feedback: Actively ask trusted mentors, advisors and team members for insights, and use their advice to improve, even when it’s uncomfortable. This offers two benefits. It helps identify your professional blind spots and signals to leaders your career interests. I once had a trusted advisor tell me my briefing style was missing the mark. I was so focused on solutions that I forgot to ground my verbal briefs with a scene setter. In other words, I was losing my audience. I took the advice, practiced with team members, and I’m now often sought out to help shape presentations to ensure maximum impact. That three-minute conversation 17 years ago has been a career game-changer.
Your future is waiting for you! I hope these tips are helpful! I’d love to hear your insights and questions. I’ll take the time to answer them. I’m proud of you!
Treva Smith is a federal human resources, diversity and inclusion, and business operations professional, with over 33-years of service. Treva enjoys advising and mentoring individuals navigate their career paths to meet identified goals. She specializes in career planning and personal branding, and is certified to instruct Business Etiquette through the distinguished Protocol School of Washington and a certified Global Career Development Facilitator through National Employment Counseling Association.
Photo credit: Ylanite Koppens, Pexels
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