Career success does not come easily, even though it seems as if some individuals receive great rewards for little effort. In reality, people, who do well, do not only work hard, but also take the right steps to get noticed. Over the course of their own careers, experts such as career coaches and CEOs have gained plenty of insight into what these steps are, and you can benefit from their expertise in order to give a boost to your career prospects.
Many different people can play a part in your success, whether directly (people in your company) or indirectly (look at what these career experts have to say in the media). Managers, career coaches, CEOs, and HR consultants have all gained considerable knowledge on how to climb the ladder and get the career you want. They’ve not only made progress in their career, but also guided and observed many others to a fulfilling and successful career. Here’s how you can benefit from their knowledge:
Getting noticed
If you’re going to advance in your career, you have to be noticed by the people who have the power to promote you and give you the projects that will help you gain experience. You should make them see you as someone with plenty to offer, and who will enhance the company. Your managers want to know that you can deliver, and that you have the commitment and drive needed to get things done. Give your complete enthusiasm to everything you do, and show that you are willing to put in the time and effort wherever it’s needed.
1. Acquire leadership skills
Progressing in your career will require you to be in charge of others, which can be daunting. But you don’t have to be a natural leader; you can acquire leadership as a result of following education path. You will have to learn to get the most out of people, lead your team efficiently, assign the right people to each task, and ensure that the team cooperates with each other. Constantly ask yourself what is the best way to handle people, get projects done, and improve your leadership skills. Don’t be disheartened if you make mistakes; like any skill, leadership can always be improved and refined, and mistakes can teach you how to do better in the future.
2. Be focused
A great career won’t simply come to you. Be focused and determine what you need to do in order to achieve your goals. Have a clear path in mind, and take the necessary steps to follow it. Aimless people get nowhere, and they take a long time to do that. Focused people have a plan, and work to make it happen. They review their plan, dismiss what isn’t working, and revise their plan to make it more effective. It can be useful to have a timescale, providing it’s realistic; for example, decide where you want to be in one year, five years, and ten years.
3. Be an effective communicator
So much of being a good leader is being able to communicate with your peers and subordinates. Many people have taken their eye off the ball regarding written communications thinking that in a digital age it is not necessary to have writing skills. There are however still many jobs where instructions are passed on in writing, just as many jobs still require leaders to be able to make presentations or give speeches. You never know when your writing skills will be put to the test so always be prepared. And if not, be professional and get the right help. A company like Australian Writings can help you out with producing reports, presentations, writing speeches and even just editing or proofreading your own work. It’s a great way to learn how to do it next time or just to use as the safety net for when you are called upon to put the proverbial pen to paper.
4. Be efficient
Companies want to see that you can get things done. They are especially keen to see that you not only get things done, but can save them time and money. Successful people have learned to maximise their efficiency so that they can achieve more from their time while still performing to a high standard. So show your employers that you can not only work well, but that you can also fulfil your tasks quickly without cutting corners. Be cautious though, as managers can fail to notice the quietly efficient people; make sure that they are aware of what you’re achieving.
5. Be indispensable
If you want to get on, you not only need to demonstrate your capabilities, but should also convince your company that you can provide something other people don’t. They could employ any number of people to do the same job, so what makes you special in their eyes? You must make them feel that you bring something extra to the role, whether it’s your ideas, fast work, or skill in persuading a team to work together. Show them that you are willing to take on new challenges, and that you can get things done without needing to be micromanaged. A willingness to step outside your role in the interests of the company and getting things done can also mark you out as someone the company needs.
You don’t need a career expert to tell you that a successful career needs a lot of effort putting into it. But if you listen to the people who spend their lives helping others to succeed, you’ll be able to see just what you need to do in order to help your career flourish. Take note of the tips they offer to help you get ahead, and you can start to head into a future of career success and fulfillment.
