12 Tips to Climbing the Career Ladder FASTER!

 

Coach Dan provides hands-on, smart advice on how you can create a unique career path within your company even as the world tells you that there are fewer possibilities for growth. So, chin up and get to work with some proven, solid strategies.

Monday mornings can be tough. Sometimes it’s just too much weekend, but most of the time it’s just the idea of getting back on the merry-go-round of dealing with life as well as the pressures of work.  I was recently chatting with a young lady who is a manager at a global trading company. She always seems to have a great attitude all the while handling multiple responsibilities.

She told me that her Monday started as usual….chaotic, with a sick two-year-old and neurotic dog at home. But she shared with me the effort and discipline that she holds herself to in order to keep smiling and genuinely always show that she is looking forward to another productive day. In three years, she has moved up the career ladder from receptionist to purchasing manager. Her effort pays off.

In fast-paced work environments, success is greatly measured by the attitude and focus someone is perceived to have when it comes to things like initiating projects and successful implementation of those projects, no matter what it takes.

So, what is preventing you from climbing the career ladder? Fear? Anxiety? The inability to get along well with your team?

Carve your path to success by following these tips:

1. Commit to the job that you now have but always keep an eye on future opportunities. In simple terms, this means work hard, really hard in your current job and have a clear vision for your personal growth and your company’s future. These are intertwined and one cannot exist without the other.
2. In your current job, always work hard to make that position better. In essence you should consider yourself (at any job) an independent contractor hired to do a job well. It is always critical that you understand the needs of your current job and that you make efforts to not just be average, but great at what you do.
3. Be proactive and ensure prompt follow up in your dealings with everyone. Don’t wait for the opportunity, instead, just go ahead and seize it.
4. Remember, you may not always receive adequate recognition and that is okay. When designing your future, note that you may not get accolades all the time, but remember….SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING!
5. Be ambitious. Go for it! Never just do the basic job, look for the next step and do it meticulously.
6. Be responsive and always take notes. This is a simple advice, but an important one. Taking notes will give you the opportunity to be sure you accurately heard and understand the issues and directions.
7. Always exceed your manager’s expectations. If he is there by 6:30 a.m., be there at 6 a.m.
8. Understand your company’s culture and learn to adapt to different personality styles at work.
9. Network and try to find the right person who can be your champion. Spend time wisely networking with folks who not just matter, but find and associate with people who also know other people that you need to know. Seek their sponsorship and learn from them.
10. Invest in professional development and gain deep knowledge of trends impacting your industry. This will help you provide intelligent conversation.
11. Keep a “glory file.” This will chronicle your good work and will be an effective tool to take to your annual evaluation.
12. Think a notch higher and act and behave as if you are one level above your current position. Always dress for success and dream big!

At the end of the day, work is like school. Be proactive, do your homework and you can climb the career ladder fast. I teach people to be proactive, manage their time well and look for the next big step in their lives.  If this is something you could use some help with, call or write me today. This is what I do and I’m open for business.

Be Great!

Coach Dan