Want to Position Yourself for Career Growth in the Next 6 Months? Read on

As we step into October 2024, many professionals like you might be reflecting on where they are in their careers. Are you feeling stuck, stagnating in a role that no longer challenges or excites you? Have you spent the last few years waiting for that promotion, raise, or recognition that never came? If this resonates with you, know you’re not alone.

One of the biggest challenges mid-level professionals face is the sense of plateau. You’ve put in years of hard work, yet it feels like you’re spinning your wheels. Maybe you’ve reached a certain level of success, but breaking through to the next stage seems elusive. The frustration can be overwhelming, but the good news is that there’s a proven way to shift your trajectory—one that I’ve successfully implemented with clients like Janet, who went from being stuck in her career for over a decade to ascending to senior leadership in just six months.

Before I dive into Janet’s journey, I want you to think about where you see yourself in the next six months. Is it finally stepping into a senior role? Maybe landing that dream job or commanding the salary you deserve? Whatever your career growth goal is, the next six months can be transformative if you take the right steps now.

Here is Janet's Story: From Stagnation to Senior Leadership in 6 Months

Janet had been working for a well-known company for over 10 years. By all accounts, she was successful—she had a steady job, a reasonable salary, and the respect of her peers. But inside, she felt stuck. For years, she had watched colleagues climb the corporate ladder while she remained in the same role, managing the same projects, and earning the same paycheck. The lack of forward movement began to affect her self-esteem, and she was starting to question her value.

When Janet reached out to me in October 2023, she was on the brink of burnout. She knew she was capable of more, but she didn’t know how to break through the invisible ceiling. We got to work right away, focusing on a 6-month strategy to position her for a senior leadership role. By April 2024, she had not only achieved her goal, but she had also tripled her salary and was leading a team of 50 people across multiple departments.

Here’s exactly what we did to transform her career—and it’s the same approach I’ll share with you today.

Step 1: Acknowledge Where You Are—And Why You Feel Stuck

The first thing Janet and I did was to assess her current situation. She had fallen into a common trap that many professionals face: she was waiting for her company to recognize her value. For years, she had been relying on her stellar performance to speak for itself, expecting that the leadership team would notice and reward her accordingly. This, unfortunately, rarely happens in most organizations.

The truth is, career growth rarely happens organically. You have to take ownership of your trajectory. Waiting for someone else to give you a promotion or a raise isn’t a strategy—it’s a gamble.

If this sounds familiar, ask yourself:

- Am I passively waiting for my career to take off, or am I actively driving it forward?

- Have I been clear with my superiors and peers about my career goals, or am I assuming they know what I want?

Recognizing that your current position is a result of past decisions and actions is the first step to creating a new strategy for career growth.

Step 2: Identify What’s Missing

After acknowledging the current situation, Janet and I identified the gaps in her skill set, her network, and her visibility within the company.

Skill Set: Janet had all the technical skills required for her role, but what she lacked were some of the strategic leadership competencies that would position her as a candidate for senior leadership. So, we worked on honing her executive presence, mastering the art of decision-making, and improving her ability to influence stakeholders.

Network: Another gap was in her internal and external network. For years, she had stayed within her department and didn’t put herself in situations where she could build relationships with senior leaders. To change this, we developed a plan for Janet to attend key company events, request one-on-one meetings with executives, and seek out a mentor from upper management.

Visibility: Lastly, Janet lacked visibility. Even though she was doing excellent work, very few people knew about it. I coached her on how to raise her profile within the company, from contributing to high-profile projects to speaking up more in leadership meetings.

Step 3: Create a 6-Month Action Plan

Once we had a clear picture of where Janet was and what was missing, we developed a detailed 6-month action plan. This plan was designed to position her as a senior leader by April 2024, and it was broken down into three key areas:

Develop Leadership Skills: Janet signed up for executive leadership workshops and worked with me on enhancing her soft skills, like negotiation, conflict resolution, and team management. This made her a more attractive candidate for leadership roles.

Expand Her Network: Janet started reaching out to key people both within and outside her organization. She built strategic relationships with mentors and decision-makers who could advocate for her when leadership roles opened up.

Increase Visibility: Janet began volunteering for high-visibility projects and made sure to document and share her achievements with her superiors. By consistently demonstrating her value, she ensured that when the next leadership opportunity arose, she was top of mind.

By staying committed to this action plan, Janet not only achieved her goal, but she also unlocked opportunities she hadn’t even considered possible.

Step 4: Implement Your Plan for Career Growth—Starting This October 2024

Now, let’s talk about you. It’s October 2024, and the next six months are critical if you want to make significant strides in your career by the first quarter of 2025.

Here’s a simple framework you can start using today:

Set Specific Goals

What exactly do you want to achieve in the next six months? Whether it’s a promotion, a new job, or a salary increase, define your goal clearly. A vague goal like "I want to advance my career" won’t motivate you as much as a specific goal like "I want to become the head of my department by April 2025."

Assess Your Skills and Gaps

Look at your current role and the role you want to step into. What skills do you need to develop? How can you close those gaps? This might involve taking on new responsibilities, getting additional certifications, or developing your leadership abilities.

Build Strategic Relationships

Networking isn’t just about connecting with people—it’s about forming relationships with those who can help you grow. Start by identifying the key decision-makers in your organization and industry. Build genuine relationships by offering value and asking for advice.

Increase Your Visibility

Your hard work won’t speak for itself if no one is listening. Find ways to showcase your accomplishments. This could be through internal presentations, publishing thought leadership articles, or volunteering for high-profile projects.

5. Commit to Consistency

The key to career growth is consistent action. Don’t wait for things to happen—make them happen. Take action every week that moves you closer to your goal.

If you’re ready to make a difference and take control of your career, I invite you to book a free discovery call with me [here](https://calendly.com/emakokha2005/30min?month=2024-10 ). Let’s talk about your specific situation, your goals, and how we can develop a customized plan for your career growth over the next six months.

You can also check out a media interview I recently did on the topic of career growth, where I dive deeper into strategies for professionals at all levels. Watch it [here](https://youtu.be/riB2OWKJn04 ).

Final Thoughts: Your Career, Your Move

The next six months could be the most pivotal time in your career if you’re willing to take action. Janet’s story is proof that no matter how long you’ve been stuck, you can make massive strides with the right strategy, support, and mindset.

It’s time to stop waiting for someone else to recognize your value. Step up, take control, and position yourself for the career growth you deserve.

Your future starts now.