The vast majority of us have to work. And if you’re going to do something, then it’s recommended that you do it well. Most people have a somewhat ambivalent attitude to their careers, viewing their job as something of a necessary evil. But if you can change your mindset about your career, then you’ll find that not only do you enjoy your working life more, but you can also step up into new, more satisfying positions. Just having enthusiasm for your career, and having the desire to make it as good as possible, can give you the edge over people.
Of course, enthusiasm is best when it’s matched with action. In this blog, we’ll run through some actionable tips that’ll help you to step up your professional life in 2023.
Setting Goals
It’s unlikely that you’ll get to the top of your personal professional mountain if you don’t set goals. Without an objective, you’re liable to just coast along in your career. With goals, you’ll always have something to work towards. You can set short, mid, and long-term goals for your career. They don’t always have to be grand. You might dedicate one goal towards improving your relationship with others in your industry; at other times, you might aim to get a specific promotion. Keep a list of your goals, and make sure that you’re doing things that’ll make the completion of them a realistic target.
Feedback from Others
You’ll have some sense of what you’re good at and what you’re bad at. But it’s important that most people’s ability to self-analyze isn’t as robust as it could or should be. Even if you do believe that you have a good grasp on your ability to analyze your skills, it can always be useful to get feedback from others. Getting feedback from your supervisor can be immensely useful in determining what you need to improve upon. And arguably even more effective than feedback from your supervisor is feedback from your coworkers. After all, they’ll have a closer understanding of your working processes. If they tell you that you need to improve in one area, you should thank them — they’re basically giving you the key information you need to move forward.
Boosting Your Education
Most people end their formal learning once they graduate from college. But if you’re looking to apply for the best positions in your industry, then it’s important that you commit to boosting your education from time to time. After all, your industry will be progressing and moving forward, and if you don’t move with it, then you could be left behind. There are plenty of courses you can take that can help to enhance your career; take a look at the STL website to see what’s available, and dedicate some time to getting another qualification under your belt. In doing so, you won’t only give yourself extra skills that you can use in your career, but you’ll also be demonstrating to potential employers that you’re committed to your career.
Improving Soft Skills
There’ll be specific skills that are in demand in your industry. But there are some skills that are in demand in all industries. Soft skills are hard to quantify and put into words, but having them can most definitely push your career forward, especially over a long enough timeframe. A person with soft skills would be likely to go further than a person without them. Soft skills include communication, teamwork, time management, decision-making, critical thinking, networking, and empathy. If you’ve never spent any time developing your soft skills, then this could be the year.
Utilizing Your Network
It’s not what you know but who you know. You’ll have heard that expression before, and it’s hard to disagree with it. While what you know is definitely important, who you know can get your foot in doors that would otherwise be closed to you. So how do you get to a position where people are putting you forward for jobs that you didn’t even know existed? It’s all about networking. This year, commit to attending networking events on a regular basis. These can be conferences or talks, or they can be simple Meetup events organized by other people in your industry.
Taking Risks
You can have a decent career just by staying in your comfort zone. But if you want a good career, then you’ll need to take a risk from time to time. After all, if you want to get somewhere that you’ve never been before, then you’ll need to do things you’ve never done before. What this looks like can vary widely. It could mean moving to a new city or applying for a job that you’re unsure if you’re ready for. Take a look at the people who have the most job satisfaction, and you’ll invariably find that they took a chance somewhere along the line.
Keeping Up To Date With Your Industry
People who work in the top jobs are typically the people who have their finger on the pulse of what’s happening in their industry. The more you know about your industry, the easier you’ll find it to make decisions that’ll lead to a good career. Plus, just by becoming an expert on industry trends and goings-on, you’ll make yourself more attractive to potential employers. You can understand your industry by listening to podcasts and following thought leaders on social media.
Dream Big
Finally, let’s talk about ambition. Most people put themselves in boxes that limit them to a specific professional height. They tell themselves that certain jobs or positions aren’t for them. But this isn’t true. There’s no value in believing that you should stay at a certain level. The sky’s the limit! And you should be especially skeptical if someone else tells you that you can’t do something. If history has taught us anything, it’s that it doesn’t matter where you come from; everyone can reach the very top if they’re good enough. So dream big. What’s the best professional life you can think of?