When you think about your career growth, do you always think about that coworker who would not work as arduous as you, who’s not as clever as you? However, who still gets promoted — and you do not?
Probably, he is simply personally taking responsibility for his career development.
It is logical to expect your boss to give you a promotion once you’ve earned one. It is logical to anticipate the HR division to have a succession plan that includes promotions for everyone in the organization including you.
Seth Godi writes in his book Linchpin on how you can avoid being a cog in a big machine and be a linchpin instead. He refers to cog as a part of the big machine that is easily replaceable. However, a Linchpin is irreplaceable.
In this post, I’m sharing three steps that can boost your career in a big way.
Become an Artist at work
If you continue to do what you are doing, you’ll continue to get what you are getting right now. You may have heard that the art is of great value, Ever wondered why? It is because art is not easy to find that creates value. That art makes the artist unique and irreplaceable.
Career Growth Tip 1 – Whenever you do any work, try to add your value to make it unique.
For example – Your boss tells you to do research on a topic and submit a presentation. Now, what you could do is – after the presentation is finished, write your takeaways and put it as a summary in the mail while sending it to your boss. This simple step will make a huge difference.
Don’t wait for the Orders
In this highly competitive world, it is more important than ever to be proactive in the work we do. Consider these two scenarios mentioned below –
- Your boss comes to you and gives you some work to do. You would do it.
- You proactively figure out what needs to be done and do it. Your boss then comes to you and gives that work. You tell him that it is already been taken care of.
Now in the above scenarios, the second scenario is where all the difference will happen.
Career Growth Tip 2 – Always try to proactively look for things that need to be done and are likely to come to you eventually.
Find Solutions
It is easy to find problems and difficult to find solutions. Many executives take a back seat and rely on the boss to have solutions to every problem. This is one mistake I also did at the beginning of my career. I was under the impression that my job is to find the problem and flag it before it gets bigger. But, I realized after the first couple of years that I was putting no value addition on the table.
So, I figured out that the best way is to first identify the problem and think of a solution all by yourself and then go to your boss and say “I have found this problem and I think this could be the solution”. You will be surprised that in most cases your boss will say “let’s go ahead with your solution”.
Career Growth Tip 3 – Always have a Solution centric approach and go to your boss with a solution and not just a problem
This attitude not only changes your image but also gives confidence to the boss of your work. And to an extent, it also reduces your boss’s anxiety. When you start your career, your goal is to do things yourself and do the value addition. But, the more you move up the ladder, more accountability comes on your shoulders and lesser control as now you have to get things done rather than doing it yourself. Hence, the right way would be to put yourself in his shoes and empathize. Going to your boss with a solution will also calm his anxiety.
Just put these 3 points in your career growth plans/ professional development plans and start following them daily in your work. I guarantee that you would start feeling the change around you. Ultimately, every action you take will get reflected in the year-end evaluation as well.
If you found my post useful then do share it with your friends and colleagues. If you have any feedback/questions, you may leave a comment below. I will reply.