From Doing to Leading

Career progression is often seen as a linear path, but in reality, it’s filled with various stages of growth and development. Each stage brings unique challenges and opportunities, shaping who we are as professionals and how we contribute to our organisations. Understanding the stages of professional growth can help us navigate our careers more effectively and reach our professional goals.

The Stages of Professional Growth:

• Doer: We all begin our careers as Doers. This stage is all about executing tasks efficiently and following instructions. As a Doer, your primary focus is on developing your skills, learning the ropes and proving your reliability. It’s a time of absorbing knowledge, seeking feedback and relying on the guidance of your seniors and more experienced colleagues. Doers are essential to any organisation, ensuring that day-to-day operations run smoothly.
• Super Doer: As you gain experience and confidence, you transition into the role of a Super Doer. This stage involves taking on additional responsibilities, proactively seeking out new challenges and beginning to see the broader context of your work. Super Doers develop a deeper understanding of the organisation’s goals and often become the go-to person for specific tasks or projects. They not only complete tasks but also start to anticipate needs and contribute to improvements in processes and systems.
• Mentor: The next stage is becoming a Mentor. Mentors are experienced professionals who guide and support others in their professional development. The role requires leveraging knowledge and experience to help others grow, develop their skills and navigate their careers. Transitioning from a Super Doer to a Mentor can be challenging because it involves letting go of being the primary executor and focusing on empowering others. Mentors provide feedback, share knowledge and help mentees set and achieve their goals.
• Leader: Leaders take on a strategic role within the organisation, making high-level decisions that impact the direction of the company. They lead teams and projects with a focus on achieving organisational goals and inspiring others to perform at their best.
• Visionary: Visionaries think long-term and innovate, identifying new opportunities and directions for the organisation. They inspire and motivate others with their vision and drive for change.
• Advisor: Advisors provide expertise and counsel at the highest level, often acting as consultants or board members. They use their extensive experience to guide the organisation, offering strategic insights and recommendations.

Moving through these stages, from Doer to Super Doer to Mentor and beyond isn’t always a straightforward process. Each transition comes with its own set of struggles. For example, moving from a Doer to a Super Doer often requires stepping up, taking more initiative and working without constant guidance you may have relied on before. It requires confidence and the ability to handle increased responsibility. To overcome these struggles, embracing opportunities for growth, seeking feedback to improve and trusting in your ability to handle more complex tasks are essential steps.

Transitioning from a Super Doer to a Mentor can be even more daunting. Many professionals get stuck in the Super Doer stages because it’s often in their comfort zone. They are accustomed to being the go-to person and solving problems. However, to grow into a leadership role, it is essential to transition into mentoring others. If I had to be honest with myself, I think I’m stuck in the middle of Super Doer and Mentor. I’m so used to being hands-on even in the leadership roles I’ve held. I have such strong visions that I end up doing things myself or volunteering to do more and more because I like to be busy and involved. I get work FOMO really bad. However, sometimes this isn’t always good for my progression. Moving from doing to mentoring requires a shift in mindset - from focusing on personal achievements to fostering the growth and success of others. It involves trusting others to take on tasks and responsibilities and being willing to share knowledge and experiences.

Understanding these stages can help you reflect on what kind of employee you are versus what you want to be. Are you content with being a Doer or do you aspire to take on more responsibilities and become a Super Doer? Are you ready to transition into a Mentor or even further into a Leader, Visionary or Advisor? Reflecting on your career path allows you to identify where you currently stand and where you want to go, providing a clear direction for your professional growth.

To achieve your desired career progression, it’s essential to be bold and brave within your career. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want, but make sure you back it up by working hard for it too. Seek out opportunities for growth, be willing to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the challenges that come with each new stage. Setting clear goals, seeking feedback and continuously learning are crucial steps in empowering your career progression.

Networking and building relationships with colleagues, mentors and industry professionals can also play a significant role in your career development. Taking the initiative to take on new challenges and responsibilities, even before you are officially in a mentoring or leadership role, can demonstrate your readiness for advancement. Additionally, looking for opportunities to support and guide others can help you practise until your time comes.

Progressing in your career is about more than just changing job titles (sometimes it doesn’t even mean changing job titles but instead responsibilities!) Be willing to evolve in your role and embrace new challenges whilst stepping out of your comfort zone.?

Be proactive in your growth, seek opportunities that push you to develop new skills. Don’t wait for permission to step up, take initiative and demonstrate that you are ready. Understand that each stage requires a different mindset. Transitioning from stage to stage is tough but is essential for your growth.?

Remember that your career progression is truly in your hands. Be bold, be strategic and be relentless in your pursuit of growth.

Always championing for your growth,

Jessy x