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Ten strategies to prevent your career from stalling
By Krishna De
Nov 21, 2005

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With less than 2 months to the start of 2006, it’s that time of year when we look back on our achievements, and we find ourselves reflecting on the highlights of 2005.  Inevitably that includes how we have progressed professionally in our business and our career.

So here is a quick checklist to evaluate how to assess if your career has stalled:

 

  • Have you a clear and compelling vision for your career and documented career goals for 2006?
  • Do you find yourself challenged in your role and constantly learning?
  • Have you invested in enhancing your professional and personal skills over the last year?
  • Does your employer to get involved in new projects or assignments?
  • Are you able to use your strengths and talents every day in your role?
  • Have you invested in developing your network in your industry or in your field of expertise?

 

If you have responded to these questions with a NO, then you’ve some work to do - so to help you, here are ten strategies you can implement today to make sure that you get yourself in gear for a successful 2006.

 

Get focused – without a doubt, being focused on your personal vision and goals for your career will help you achieve your ambitions. 

 

Set aside 2 hours over the next week to consider the changes you’d like to see in your life and your career or business a year from now and develop a step by step plan of what actions you need to take to realise these goals.  

 

Determine what implications this has for how you spend your time and what you need to do more of or what you need to change to help you achieve your goals.  Don’t be one of the many people who spend more time planning their vacation than they do their careers!

Review your achievements – review those occasions over the last year where you have been successful: what skills were you using; what factors contributed to your success; who supported you?

 

Then make a plan to integrate these learning’s into the year ahead; find ways to integrate your strengths into your role every day and you can be sure that by doing so, you’ll have far more fun and satisfaction, which in turn will enhance your performance.

 

Establish a success team – identify colleagues or friends who will be able to support you in achieving your goals, in other words a team to help you be accountable to yourself.  Share your goals with each other and then meet to discuss and review your progress throughout the year to help you stay on track.

 

Seek feedbacktake time to access feedback from those around you about the unique contributions you have made when working with them over the last year.  What have they valued and what strengths do they see you have demonstrated?

Yes this may seem risky but isn’t it better to uncover the views and perceptions others have of you than never knowing and perhaps missing out on invaluable insights on how they see you?

 

Be visiblemake time to connect with others both inside and outside your organisation.  In particular, make sure that you spend time connecting and building relationships with colleagues in your team, your peers, your manager and others throughout your business.

If you’re a shy retiring wallflower staying close to your desk or your office no one will ever know what hidden talents you have!

 

Deliver what you promiseyour clients invariably expect great customer service and your organisation needs proactive team members.  So why is it that many of us over promise and under deliver?

Make sure that if you promise to get back to a colleague or a client with information or work that you have committed to, then do so at the time you promised it.  You’ll build your credibility and a reputation for being efficient, effective and reliable.

 

Keep your CV up to date - don't wait until a great opportunity presents itself to update your resume.  Keep it current as it’s a great way to record your achievements during the course of the year.

 

Keep up to date with changes in your professionmake time to keep up to date with developments in your field of expertise through reading relevant publications and attending seminars. 

 

Stay connected to your network - as Keith Ferrazzi author of ‘Never Eat Alone’ remarks, don’t start to network when you are looking for a new role – by then it’s too late.  Keep connected with people in your network and support them in their success (see accountingnet.ie, 18 October 2005 and the article on ‘How to invest in your professional and social capital’, which outlines 5 ways to give to your network).

 

Raise your profile in your industry and community - research conferences or events in your field of expertise and explore opportunities for you present as an industry expert; consider approaching the editor of a relevant journal or web publication where you could submit articles in your field of expertise.

 

So if you want to make sure that your career doesn’t stall and you want to get yourself in gear, invest time in developing your goals then integrating and implementing these strategies and you’ll be on track for 2006 to be your best year yet.

 

Krishna De is CoFounder and Managing Director of Oneocean Ltd and the creator of Biz Growth Live (www.bizgrowthlive.com), a free weekly teleseminar where she interview experts in how to build your brand, grow your business and leave your competition on the starting blocks!

Copyright © 2005 Oneocean Ltd. All rights reserved. Oneocean Ltd is a leading business growth consultancy with a difference – focusing on the unique strengths of your organisation and your people to unlock extraordinary performance and growth.


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