Are you someone who puts all your energy into your job at the expense of your career? If so, it’s time to change that! Your career is your responsibility, and it’s up to you to pay attention to it. Nobody else can do it for you.
When you focus on your career goals, you bring benefit to the business by default. By becoming more visible, focusing on your strengths, and being more intentional in your work, you’ll perform better, feel more valued, and be more energized to do more.
So, what can you do to kickstart your career goals and maintain momentum to get to the next level? Here are some habits to incorporate into your daily, weekly, and monthly routine:
Daily Habits:
- Journaling: Keep track of how and when you’ve added value at work. This way, you can easily recall examples of your successes during performance reviews, meetings with your manager, or job interviews. It’s a great way to remind yourself of your accomplishments and to stay motivated.
- Communicate your brand: Every interaction is an opportunity to communicate your brand and demonstrate your value. Think about what you want the other person to think, say, or do after the meeting and prepare accordingly. Be intentional about the image you want to project and the message you want to convey.
- Use LinkedIn: Posting on LinkedIn should be a daily habit. Share an article, comment on others’ posts, and become visible in your field. This free platform is an excellent way to advertise who you are and what you do to your current employer and potential new employers. Make sure your profile is up-to-date and showcases your skills and achievements.
Weekly Tasks:
- Check-in with your objectives: Each year, you should agree on objectives with your manager. Check in on them weekly and identify the progress you’ve made and what more you can do. This way, you can make sure that you’re not only meeting expectations but exceeding them. Keep track of your progress and adjust your actions as needed to stay on track.
- Network: Plan time in your week to deepen connections or make new ones. Push yourself to move outside your comfort zone. These connections can make or break future moves and give you a fresh perspective. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and volunteer for committees or projects to expand your network.
- Prepare: Schedule thinking and preparation time in your diary to move from reactive to proactive. Look ahead at the opportunities to have an impact and influence. Prepare well for meetings, events, and show up ready to be seen and heard. Anticipate questions or objections and have compelling responses ready.
Monthly Tasks:
- Gather Evidence: Set up time monthly to gather evidence of your results. Any feedback you receive, presentations you’ve given, and performance measures you’ve taken. Having all this information in one handy place will be helpful when it comes time to sell yourself at a performance review or job interview. Keep a record of your achievements and use them to build your case for a promotion or raise.
- Look for opportunities: Look ahead for opportunities to present, attend meetings or events, and projects to get involved in. Keep your eyes open, ask around, and identify the areas that interest you the most. Be proactive in seeking out opportunities to showcase your skills and expertise.
Remember, your career is your responsibility, and it’s part of your job to pay attention to it. Happy and productive employees are ones that feel recognized, rewarded, and have a future career path. While your company is partly responsible for making that happen, you have to be the one that drives it forward with good habits! So, empower yourself and take action towards your career goals today! By incorporating these daily, weekly, and monthly habits and tasks, you can stay on track and achieve amazing things.
If you are ready to take your career to the next level then book in a career game plan session with me where will identify the top actions you need to take!
