In order to keep ahead in these changing and challenging times we regularly need to review our career progress and refresh our goals and long term vision. Competition is fierce, change is inevitable and continuous breakthroughs in technology mean we have to ensure our knowledge is relevant and our position is as secure as it can be.
There are many ways of keeping ahead of the curve and ensuring that you are effectively moving up the career ladder and thus avoiding getting stuck on a professional plateau that could lead to a dead end.
Here are three simple ways in which you can leverage your career progression:
Raise Your Profile - Networking is key to help you gain insider knowledge, it gets you in front of the right people and helps to build your professional reputation. Network horizontally and vertically and even in groups outside your industry. Actively seek out breakfast clubs, conferences and special interest events which will help you gain credibility and expand your horizons. Volunteer for special projects.
Be Known - Actively get to know people outside your immediate working environment. Make connections across the board, in different departments and locations. Be a person known for their usefulness and connections, share information, introduce people, be in the know - this way you and your reputation will get noticed by important decision makers.
Develop Yourself - Invest in extra training or coaching to give you the ability to be even better at what you do. Think about presentation skills training, voice coaching or even an image consultant to help you dress for success. Any investment in personal development will pay off and give you that serious competitive edge.
It is vital that you are aware that career progression lies with you the individual and although hard work and diligence are key components to rising on the career ladder, they need to be combined with presence and reputation to ensure success.