How to navigate your career path?


By Bonnie Marcus, M.Ed.,C.E.C                            
 
In the current business environment, people are so preoccupied with their own business at hand and so busy keeping up with the fast pace of doing business, that they rarely have time to seek you out, recognize and reward you.
In the past, it was a commonly held belief that talent and hard work would lead to the recognition we needed to advance our careers. This was probably valid until the last decade or so.  The internet and social media popularity have dramatically expanded our work environment from our cubicle, our office, our company, to a global playing field, and the rules of the game have changed as a result. Competition is everywhere. Distraction is ever present, and opportunities and possibilities are seemingly endless.

How does that change the way we navigate the corporate environment to reach our goals?

It is now more important than ever to take control of our own career path; to strategically and intentionally focus on where we want to go. Unless we create the credibility and visibility for ourselves, it is less likely that we will get the recognition we deserve, therefore, less likely that we will reach your career goal.
Here are some tips on how to take control of your career and navigate your own career path.

1.  What is your destination?  This can be a long range goal or a goal for the coming year. Make sure you set realistic expectations for the timeframe, and communicate your goal to your boss and other key people in your department and organization.

2. What is your starting point?  Your starting point is where you are now. This is the foundation of your navigation plan. Identify your value proposition. What are your strengths? What are your accomplishments? How have these helped you in past positions or your current job? Create three strong adjectives to describe you and your contribution to your company. Use these descriptors consistently in your conversations and meetings to build your personal brand across the organization. This is what you bring to the table and the way you want others to view you.

3. Roadside Assistance: your web of influence.  Think strategically. Who are the people you know or need to know in your organization that can help you reach your goal?  Your web of influence is your personal power network. It includes key decision makers, influencers, as well as connectors who can introduce you to the people you need to know. Request a mentor or sponsor to help you move up the ranks.

4. Step on the accelerator. You can move your career forward quickly by creating a plan for visibility and consistent communication with your web of influence. Build and leverage these relationships. Do your homework to learn what is important to each contact. Strengthen your credibility by connecting your value proposition to the current business outcomes and goals of your department or company for maximum impact. This clearly demonstrates how you contribute to the company's bottom line and success.

5. Look at alternate routes to broaden your influence. Network outside your company to expand your professional reach and create your subject matter expertise. Use your value proposition to create powerful profiles for social media that accurately describe your professional value. Strategically network online and through local networking organizations to find potential influencers and connectors. Start a blog focusing on your expertise. Write articles. Get involved in community organizations. More exposure builds your credibility.

Today it is critical to become your own personal PR and marketing manager. Consistently promoting your value proposition and brand message is the key to creating the credibility and visibility you need to navigate successfully and reach your career destination.


By Bonnie Marcus, M.Ed.,C.E.C                            
Certified Executive Coach, Professional Speaker and Self Promotion Expert
www.WomensSuccessCoaching.com
Forbes Top 100 Websites for Professional Women