Career Management: Your Job Depends On It

I bet you $1M that right this minute there is a high-potential employee that wants more responsibility, believes that their potential is being wasted or is otherwise bored to tears. I'll go one step further; I bet that most of them haven't shared their frustrations with anyone at work in a position to affect change.

I make this bet with confidence because when I ask corporate go-getters that are feeling stuck or dissatisfied at work about whether they've shared their aspirations with their boss, they say "No, not yet, because..." And then they tell me all the reasons they think they can't:

• The job I want doesn't really exist. 
• No one in a similar role manages other staff.
• I don’t have all the qualifications required. 
• It's never been done before.

If that sounds like you, I've got a truth bomb for you - it's your J.O.B. to speak up! Because those are just self-limiting stories that, while they may have been true in the past, are not guaranteed to be true forevermore.

Your manager really wishes you'd talk to them...

And here's another truth bomb: Your manager really wishes you'd talk to them about this. {Hey, I saw that! That stink-eye you just gave me while you said to yourself, "Oh if she only knew my manager ??!"} Okay fair play, maybe it's your manager's manager, the owner of the company, someone in HR or Learning & Development or in succession planning... Whomever it is, the point remains true, smart companies do not want to lose smart people if for no other reason than it's expensive to find, train, and ramp-up new hires.

And while there's no guarantee that having a conversation about your career aspirations will result in getting permission to hire staff, earning a promotion, expanding your job description, or whatever it is you desire most, the odds are significantly higher than if you remain silent. (While you might be able to read minds, the rest of us? Not so much.)

Besides, you don't know what you don't know... Perhaps someone on your team just gave notice or is planning to take family leave. Maybe your company is acquiring another or plotting a massive expansion... The conversations taking place behind closed doors may actually work in your favor! It may feel scary but brave conversations are how people (and companies) grow. You might say something like:

• I've discovered that I have a knack for X and I'd like to do more of it. There seems to be a real need...
• As I look ahead to the next 12-18 months, I wonder if we might find a way where I can get more exposure to the Y part of the business; I'm eager to learn more and grow.
• The Z part of the business needs attention; I'd like to explore launching a task force. I want more leadership experience and I know others are passionate about Z too.

While you might not get exactly what you want, you succeed simply by demonstrating that you are 1) capable of having courageous conversations, 2) committed to win-win outcomes, and 3) on a mission to catapult your career. People will notice, of that I'm sure!

Take action now. Consider your career aspirations. Schedule time to meet with key stakeholders and decision-makers. Make your case. Daunting? Perhaps. Take a deep breath, let go of any self-limiting stories, let go of the outcome, and be your own champion!

PS. I'm putting the finishing touches on a new small group coaching program. If you're interested in learning about the launch, sign-up here: https://bit.ly/Sima-Small-Group. And no, no SPAM, not never, you have my word ??