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How To Get Ahead At Work
As a highly competent and capable professional person you know that you have a ton of potential. Over the years I have worked with many highly talented professional people who really struggled when it came to getting ahead at work and in their career generally.
So what steps can you take to help you get ahead at work?
Be Clear About What You Want
One of the easiest things to say, and one of the hardest things to do in my experience. Of course you can probably turn your hand to just about any sector or role in your professional field. The trouble is that it is really difficult to be strategic around things like job search if you are unclear about what you want.
Deliver What You Say You Will
There are many people out there who want to be seen to be involved in lots of things and sometimes this desire to be involved in lots of things means that they spread themselves too thinly. People by contrast who deliver what they say they will when they will get a reputation as the go to person. They get access to the best opportunities as a result.
Be Consistent
If you are managing or leading a team of people there is nothing worse in their eyes than the manager or leader who is inconsistent. This means that you want to make sure that you are not letting off steam or being the person who is nice one minute and nasty the next.
Invest In Developing Yourself
You can never do too much when it comes to developing yourself just too little. The reality is that it does not get easier as you become more senior. The challenges, responsibilities and risks are just bigger in return for the bigger rewards.
Talk To Your Boss About Your Career Aspirations
People sometimes worry that their boss will look on them unfavourably if they talk about their career aspirations. The fact is a good boos will not just want to talk to you about career aspirations but also help you to achieve them. Good leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders. Always remember this.
Start To Record Your Achievements
It’s a guarantee whether you want your next promotion in your current organisation or in a new organisation that you will be asked about career achievements. You probably do so much that it is really easy to forget what you have achieved or simply overlook some significant things.
Learn To Deal With The Organisational Politics
There are organisational politics in every organisation. It would be easy to say that you should not get caught up in them and we all know that in reality you are always going to have deal with them
The Bottom Line: Getting ahead in your career can be tough and at the same time you can take steps to improve your chances of success.
Duncan Brodie helps professional people achieve more career success. Learn more here
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.