Don’t spend one more minute dreaming about a better tomorrow – or a better career – when you can own and create one today. YOU are the only one choose your path and your choices in life.
If you can do these four things outlined below, you are on your way to achieving your professional goals.
1. Put an end to hiding your accomplishments and ask for what you want – Talk about yourself. Figure out what which accomplishments you have made matter most to you! Make a list of all the projects and career highlights. From this figure out exactly what you are good at! Toot your own horn in a way that is respectful but also bold and confident. Inform your employers what these achievements are and where your competencies lay. If you want that promotion – ask for it. If you want that position in the other department – ask for it. You already don’t have it, so the only risk is rejection and that never stops great people doing what their best at.
2. Own you power and show your confidence to everyone who is looking – You have the power to make decisions about your life. You have the power to decide whom you want to surround yourself with. Don’t shy away from your talents, achievements and skills that you are good at. Sign up for extra work that will challenge you and show that you are eager to want more. Give the presentations, deliver the speeches, volunteer as much as you can. Show your confidence and deliver yourself as well as those around you.
3. Care about your team members but don’t pacify them – If you are leading a team, you need to develop them, respect them and hold them accountable for their results. Recognise those who are high performing and give them more challenging projects. Promote them when possible. Don’t fail because you can’t bear to let go of dead weight. Instead introduce a “manage-up” as well as a “manage-out” performance process. Reward those who are high performers and relocate the low performers. When you think about covering up for those low performers you risk your own future. How will this affect you in the long run? Help them succeed without permitting them to burden you.
4. Let others know what you need and teach people how to treat you – Have you made it clear what your needs are and if they’re being communicated well. Have you considered the needs of those in your team? What type of environment, culture and resources do you need to do your best work? Consider these things when leading a team. Set some standards and live by them. There are too many people who complain about how others treat them but they’ve never once stopped and acknowledge their standards or requirements on how to be treated. Set standards for communication, respectful dialogue and conflict management. Make sure you are treating others the way you want to be treated and uphold the professional standards and ethics in your business.
