Struggling to advance in your business strategy career?

Self-assessments can be misleadingly subjective; seek external feedback for a true skill audit. While self-assessment is valuable, it often lacks objectivity. Incorporate 360-degree feedback from colleagues and mentors to get a well-rounded view of your abilities. As Bill Gates said, "We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve." Balancing internal reflection with external insights ensures you identify real gaps and strengths, setting a solid foundation for growth.

Personal branding is often overlooked as an important ingredient of professional success. As a coach I meet several professionals who are very good contributors, but they do not know how to show their work, how to share their accomplishments and own their success without a chip on the shoulder. Business strategy requires a lot of credibility, cause mostly people join strategy after a few years of experience. Thus, investing in Personal branding goes a long way in sharing a career in Business strategy.

Identificar os pontos e aprimora-los, identificar os pontos fracos e desenvolvemos ou mitiga-los s?o as principais estratégias para buscar um melhor desenvolvimento profissional.

One thing that shows your skills properly, is a case study. Even if it's fictional (be honest about it though), case studies show your approach to certain problems. They give you the ability to show a holistic view on how you solve problems, apply learnings and keep yourself aligned. Also, it is compact enough to show your expertise in a nutshell, and broad enough to show how you approach to problems from different sides.

Conducting a thorough self-assessment is crucial for advancing in business strategy. When I started the Institute for Youth in Policy, I quickly realized the importance of understanding my strengths and areas needing improvement. Business strategy roles require a solid grasp of market analysis, competitive intelligence, and strategic planning. Recognizing gaps in these areas led me to pursue further training and certifications, which significantly enhanced my expertise. For instance, taking a course in competitive intelligence gave me new tools to analyze market trends more effectively. This continuous learning not only broadened my skill set but also made me more valuable to my organization.

Cultivar relaciones sólidas y estratégicas es fundamental para el éxito de un líder. Invertir tiempo y esfuerzo en construir una red efectiva es una de las mejores inversiones que puedes hacer para impulsar tu carrera. Interactuar con otros profesionales de tu sector te permite mantenerte actualizado, aprender de sus experiencias y mejorar tus propias habilidades. Además, contar con una red de colegas y mentores te brinda un valioso respaldo emocional y profesional en momentos desafiantes.

During my time in the NGO sector, building a strong network was instrumental in success -- connecting with professionals in your field can provide valuable insights and open doors to opportunities that aren't publicly advertised. Attend industry events, join relevant associations, and participate in online groups. These connections can offer support, mentorship, and advice as you navigate your career path. For example, I met a mentor at a conference who provided guidance on strategic planning that significantly impacted our projects. Engaging with peers keeps you informed about industry trends and helps you stay ahead in your career.

With regard to networking, I always advise to first ask yourself what you want to get out of a certain network. Is it starting a career in strategy, is it finding another job, or specializing? You have to know what you're aiming for to know which steps to take while networking. Don't go networking for the sake of it: have a goal and keep that goal in mind.

Network to advance your career and stay updated on industry trends and requirements. Your skills might need refreshing, and a peer can review them and provide feedback. They can also help by encouraging you to join groups with potential clients or offering a good referral.

Elevator Pitch: Prepare a concise and compelling elevator pitch that clearly communicates who you are and what you do. This helps make a memorable impression in brief interactions. Follow Up: After initial meetings, follow up with a personalized message or connection request. Reference specific details from your conversation to build a stronger relationship. Offer Value: Focus on how you can help others in your network, whether through sharing insights, making introductions, or providing support. Networking is a two-way street, and offering value can strengthen connections.

Setting clear performance goals is essential for career advancement in business strategy. I'm pretty sure that aligning your personal goals with the strategic objectives of your organization can demonstrate your commitment and make it easier for supervisors to recognize your contributions. Proactively seeking feedback and using it to refine your approach, much like the continuous improvement cycles in Six Sigma, helps you stay on track and continuously improve.

SMART Goals: Ensure your performance goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This structure helps clarify expectations and track progress. Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular check-ins with your manager to review your progress towards your goals. This keeps you aligned with expectations and allows for timely adjustments. Document Achievements: Keep a record of your accomplishments and contributions. This documentation can be useful during performance reviews or when discussing career advancement opportunities.

Aligning personal performance goals with organizational objectives highlights commitment and facilitates recognition. Proactively seeking feedback and using it to refine skills can lead to career advancement.

El aprendizaje continuo es un elemento clave en la estrategia empresarial, ya que permite a las empresas adaptarse al cambio, innovar, desarrollar una ventaja competitiva, retener el talento y mejorar el desempe?o organizacional. Las empresas que logran crear una cultura de aprendizaje continuo se encuentran mejor posicionadas para tener éxito en el mercado. Una cultura de innovación crea las condiciones necesarias para que las empresas puedan identificar y aprovechar oportunidades en el mercado de manera proactiva y sostenible en el tiempo. Fomenta la creatividad, la adaptabilidad, la colaboración y el aprendizaje, todos elementos esenciales para detectar y capitalizar nuevas oportunidades de negocio.

Best way to learn and progress in a business strategy role is training: OTJ (On The Job training). True, there are several courses out there that will help you understand methods and analysis to help you reach better decisions. To name a few: Porter' five forces, SWOT analysis and BCG matrix. So taking courses that teach you how to use those tools is extremely beneficial, however, the only way you'll understand to use it in a productive way is on a real life case, on the job. You can train during the course, but the quality on the outcome of the tool and the necessary adjustments and iterations you'll have to do based on the stakeholders' needs is what will make you become a better strategist.

Not only learning, but applying your knowledge in the real world is what is going to make the actual difference. If you don't have a job in the field you're looking for immediately, look into alternative options such as internships or being able to learn from someone who is already in the field you want to get in.

Commitment to lifelong learning through industry publications, workshops, and further education is crucial for staying current in business strategy. This ongoing investment enhances expertise and signals dedication, opening up advancement opportunities.

Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to go after what you want. Many people have an - unreal - feeling of safety by staying where they are. But when you are willing to leave the known behind and start over in something completely different, you will be faced with unexpected positive results that will actually advance your career!

Strategic career moves, whether lateral or external, can enhance your experience and skills. Evaluating potential benefits and risks helps ensure the move aligns with your growth objectives, similar to strategic business decisions.

Elige tus redes en base a tu público objetivo. Evita estar porque es la moda. Si estás enfocado/a en dirección de RRHH B2B, poco lograrás en Snapchat. Por el contrario, Linked in puede ser muy tentador, pero aún si consigues visualizaciones, no logres marca personal publicando gatitos. Recuerda: las redes son un micrófono, incorpora publicaciones, videos, libros, o el formato que a ti te resulte más cómodo, pero siempre asociado a tu mensaje.