5 Reasons Your Career Has Stalled.
1 - Weak Network. It might not be fair but people get ahead because of who they know and who knows them. If you’re not proactively and deliberately building your network you don’t stand a fighting chance of getting ahead.
2 - You Know It All. “I’ve done my formal education, I’ve learnt how to do my job well. Now I’m done”.
Sadly, you are done. Career success is going to involve learning and growing. It’s tiring, it’s never ending, you’re not going to get a gold star at the end of it. But you might get a better role! Learning new skills has never been easier, but you need to commit to it.
3 - “I don’t want to stand out”. I don’t blame you, it can s*ck. But building your profile not only builds credibility, it increases your chances of opportunity. If 20 people know you’re good at your job, the chances of one of them having a promotion opportunity for you is low. If 20,000 people know you’re good at your job, the chances of one of them NOT having a better opportunity for you is low.
4 - “My priority is me!” Absolutely, look after number 1! If you’re not being paid for it, don’t do it!
But don’t be upset when those who have a different attitude keep getting ahead of you. Those that get ahead go out of their way to create more value for the right people. Doing a mere 10% more than your coworkers compounds over time. How can you create more value in your current role? How can you create more value for more people?
5 - Acceptance. You’ve got an OK job, you work hard, hopefully someone will recognise and reward you in the future. Just keep your head down.
That might have been how it worked 50 years ago, but it won’t work in today's landscape. You need to get proactive and that means leveraging your current role, your network, your knowledge and your profile to get ahead. Only one person actually cares enough to do what’s needed for your career - and it isn’t your boss!
Whether you’re looking for your first job, your first promotion or your first board seat, these 5 are critical to not letting your career stall.
Which one do you think you need to work on the most? Let me know in the comments.
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1 周Great post. The point about networking really stands out. So many talented professionals assume that doing good work is enough, but visibility is just as crucial. I’m curious, how do you recommend people start building their network if they feel like they don’t have one? Especially for those who aren’t naturally outgoing or who don’t have access to the “right circles”?