Friday, January 28, 2011

10 tips for boosting your career in 2011

1. Look out for number 1

Take responsibility for your own career growth. Many big organizations have scaled back on training and development a regular outcome of the economic downturn and small companies can rarely provide significant support.

2: Be strategic

Have a long-term career strategy, or at the very least, a sense of where you’re headed. Ask yourself, “What do I actually want to do?” or “Where do I see myself in 5 to 10 years?” Seek people in similar roles and ask for their advice.

3: Work in step with your company’s goals

Connect the dots from your role to your company’s vision and key objectives. How does your work align with the organization’s aims? What can you do to maximize your contributions?

4: Be customer centric

Whether your clients are internal or external, know their wants and needs and be fervent about meeting them. Bring the voice of the customer into your day-to-day job and let it enhance your decisions and deliverables.

5: Collaborate

Working with and through others is requisite to innovating, creating, and producing business results. Adopt a mindset for teaming and collaborating and put it into every day practice.

6: Hone your communication skills

Communication skills can make or break careers. Pick one part that needs your attention considering skills such as listening, presenting, influencing, persuading, or distilling messages and commit to development. Take a class, practice with a trusted friend or colleague, or join a group such as Toastmasters.

7: Cross over functionally

Many winning executives have risen through the ranks by taking cross-functional roles, such as moving from finance to sales or from marketing to IT. Follow their lead and you can develop your skills, your network, and your political capital.

8: Expand your experience

Volunteer for special projects or assignments that are outside your daily role. Discuss your aims with your boss, an HR representative, or a senior leader and ask for help in finding opportunities to broaden your experience base.

9: Find a guide

Mentors can serve as influential role models and provide important guidance for your career. Reach out to a potential mentor within your company or industry and see if he or she would be open to mentoring you for a particular purpose and timeframe.

10: Network now

The best time to raise your network is today. Starting at the present, get involved in groups such as professional associations, charitable organizations, or even sports leagues. Step into leadership roles and make your expertise known.


1 comment:

Nimit kashyap said...

very informative post, these tips are very important to make any career useful.