10 career success tips to celebrate 10 years of Inside Out Image

November 2021 marks ten years since I started Inside Out Image and as many people do when they hit a milestone, I’ve been reflecting on the past 10 years. It genuinely doesn’t feel like it’s been 10 years, which I think shows how much I have enjoyed helping clients develop their individual careers or companies develop their staff to create competitive advantage.

Most of the clients I work with are bright, technical and knowledgeable but have frequently not worked on their ‘people’ or, dare I say ‘soft’ skills. Not doing so really holds people back so they don’t achieve their professional desires or potential. Fundamentally, we don’t work in isolation, and it is often dealing with others that brings about both the challenges and the opportunities for our careers. ?

So to mark the 10th birthday of Inside Out Image, I want to help you focus on your career and improve from where you are currently at.

I came up with the Nine Skills needed for career success a few years back. I still think they are highly relevant and important today - both for individuals to achieve what they want to in their careers and for companies and firms to develop their people in a well-rounded way.

I’m not ashamed to say, that I’ve gone for the ‘cheesy’ tip for each year of Inside Out Image, so let’s focus on the ten most common pieces of guidance I have given to clients over the last ten years – all of which fall within the nine skills:

1.????Visibility/exposure

Building your this at work is key to career success. If people don’t know who you are, this will hold your career back. My article on PIE theory explains more.

2.????Immediate impact

The impact you have on someone the minute you encounter them is very important and can profoundly affect whether a relationship starts or where there is no option, the quality and positivity of it. This could be in an email, on the phone or in a meeting.

3.????Positive professional relationships

These kinds of relationships make difficult conversations and situations easier.

4.????Get to know your team

Make time for getting to know your team and considering their development if you manage one. Make sure they are an asset not a burden!

5.????‘Office Politics’

You can’t avoid it if you want to progress - you need to learn to navigate it. My guide will help you .

6.????Present engagingly and confidently

These presentation skills will help you gain visibility and have impact in your role.

7.????Understand that people are different

Not everyone has the same assumptions and ways of working as you. In particular get to know how your boss thinks and build the relationship, even if it feels challenging.

8.????Don’t avoid difficult conversations

By meeting challenging conversations head on, you can help improve relationships and avoid resentment building.

9.????Feedback

Ask for feedback regularly and act on it!

10.?It’s your career

Your career is primarily your responsibility – make time for it and have development areas to work on.

Not a single one of these is rocket science but so few professional people consider them all consistently.?I work with people on all the nuances within these and many other aspects too. What do you need to be thinking about? Is there a specific point that you know you need to give focus to?

The pandemic has abated a bit with the majority of the population getting vaccinated, however it is still clear that Covid-19 is going to be with us for a long time. We therefore, cannot continue with it letting people put a hold on working on their careers, now is the time to get focused on your career. It’s vital not to lose more time.?Top considerations:

·??????What is next for you?

-??consolidation in your current role

-?a move up or laterally within your organisation

-?a new organisation?

·??????What are your current stumbling blocks?

To arrange a no obligation conversation, find out more about my Career Progression Programme?, the group sessions I run for companies and firms or the speaking I do at virtual and in-person events, please contact me.

To receive more input on my Nine Skills needed for career success, please fill in your details here.