It's a competitive world out there and lots of people like you will be looking for the best jobs and best organisations to work for. So if you really want to get ahead it's worth knowing the rules of the game.
Think of yourself as a business
All successful businesses have a vision, objectives, strategic plan and financial goals. Yet when considering our own working lives it can be very easy to fall into the trap of defining yourself in terms of a job or a role, turning up for work every day and taking home a monthly pay cheque. This is a risky approach particularly as the sense of loyalty between employer and employee so rarely exists these days. What is your personal vision for a successful career, what plans can you put into place to achieve this and what are your financial targets?
Manage your reputation
Do you really know what others think about you, your capabilities and your potential? Would you be surprised? Don't be afraid to ask for frank feedback and check out expectations. Companies do this all the time through surveys and questionnaires to monitor and improve customer satisfaction, update services and products and change pricing strategies. Without this information, businesses would never be able to change, grow and adapt. Try this out for yourself. Seek out positive and constructive feedback (and not just once a year through a performance review!), then decide what you might need to do differently such as working on assignments to raise your profile, increasing your networking across the organisation, building positive and constructive relationships…
Identify role models
Seek out people who stand out in organisations. This is your benchmark. What is it that they do, think and say and what are their winning characteristics. Modelling behaviours and actions that are appropriate for you and fit with your own style can be a quick way to success.
Demonstrate how you impact the business
Identify and be able to communicate exactly how what you do directly impacts the profitability and success of the organisation. Knowing your business and being able to explain exactly how your work adds value is vital.
Commit to continuous learning and skills development
Businesses would die on their feet if they didn't invest and continually develop and innovate. How do you stay ahead of the curve? There are so many ways to develop your skills and knowledge through networking groups, books, magazines, teleclasses, discussion groups, coaching, classes, and conferences. Learning and developing has to be a continuous process.
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