8 Secrets To Accelerating Your Career
Many professional people start off their career with high hopes and big aspirations. Perhaps they sail through their professional exams and look forward to a highly successful career. For some, things shape up as expected but many others get stuck in a rut and never fulfil their real potential.
So what are 8 secrets to accelerating your career and getting the results that you know you can?
Secret 1: Know Yourself
- Before you can move anywhere it is vital to know where you are starting from. In my experience that involves investing some serious time in assessing what you excel at, what needs developing and what really fires you up, to name just a few.
Secret 2: Have A Career Strategy
- Maybe the idea of a career strategy sounds grand, complex and really difficult to do. Yet it does not have to be any of these things. At its most basic level it is about getting clear about where you want to get to and then having a plan or route map to get there.
Secret 3: Start Becoming A Learning Machine
- There is a saying that goes along the lines of ‘what got you here won’t get you there’. The essence of this statement is that you need to keep growing and developing. The more you learn, the more you can contribute and the more you can contribute the more likely it is that you stand out from the crowd.
Secret 4: Become An Expert Listener
- Listening is often lost under the umbrella of communication. Yet in truth, if you become an expert listener you are always on the lookout for that opportunity to get that additional experience, training or whatever else it is that will get you to the next level.
Secret 5: Be Enthusiastic
- Getting ahead in your career is not going to be a trouble free ride. There are going to be bumps and obstacles along the way. It is how you respond that matters.
Secret 6: Help The Boss And They Will Help You
- Your boss wants to be successful just as much as you do. Sometimes people wrongly believe that trying to outsmart the boss is the best way forward. However, remember when your boss moves up he or she is going to be looking for their trusted people to work alongside them. Helping the boss succeed can actually be a huge win-win.
Secret 7: Become A Great Team Player
- The more senior you become, the more important it is to become a great team player. Develop a habit of collaborating rather than competing. Work with and not against others.
Secret 8: Be Responsive
- Don’t wait to be asked; be proactive and make things happen. Make sure that you deliver on the promises you make.
The Bottom Line: Moving forward in your career does take time but some simple changes can often yield big results.
Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professional people to realise their true potential and maximise their earning. You can sign up for his free audio masterclass here www.goalsandachievements.co.uk
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.