Empowering Your Professional Journey: Five Key Practices for Career Growth
In today's rapidly evolving professional landscape, empowering yourself to grow and succeed is more crucial than ever. Outlined below are five essential practices for leadership growth that can set you up for long-term success in your career. These practices blend unspoken rules, common sense, and introspective reflection to help you navigate your professional journey effectively.
1. Learn to Listen and Observe
One of the foundational skills in leadership is deep, active listening. When starting a new job or internship, the common advice is to "learn as much as you can." However, the key to maximizing early career opportunities lies in knowing how to listen effectively. Focus on three main areas: patterns, practices, and people.
Patterns
Identify recurring issues and processes within your team. Understanding these can help you acclimate quickly and contribute meaningfully. Pay attention to recurring problems, how the team responds, and the repeated processes they use to get work done.
Practices
Observe how work gets done and decisions are made. Are there specific procedures that guide decision-making? Are there protocols around gathering and presenting information? What opportunities exist for you to offer input? Recognizing these practices can help you align your contributions with team dynamics.
People
Notice the influential figures within your team. Who speaks first in meetings? Who influences the direction despite speaking less? How does the leader influence team dynamics? Understanding team dynamics and the roles different members play can provide valuable insights into how you can position yourself effectively.
2. Start with Performance
Delivering High-Quality Work
Your performance is the starting point for conversations about your success. It's essential to deliver accurate, timely work in a consistent manner. Your boss and team need to know what they can rely on you to do. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the quantity of work, scale back but be relentless about the quality of what you deliver.
Seizing Opportunities
Outstanding performance often leads to more opportunities. Look for special projects that offer unique deliverables or exposure to senior leaders. Set stretch goals that challenge you and expand your skill base.
Engaging in projects in emerging areas, like AI or cryptocurrency, where rules are still developing, can also be advantageous.
3. Seek Perspective
Value of Mentorship
Mentors play a crucial role in your development, providing guidance and helping you skill up. It's important to ask for advice and leverage the experience of others to navigate challenges and grow. Most leaders are open to investing in the growth of a team member. It is perfectly acceptable to reach out and ask for advice or support.
Building a Personal Board of Directors
Over the course of your career you will need a variety of perspectives to gain clarity on tough issues and solve problems. Having a diverse group of advisors can provide different perspectives and support your ongoing development. Identify who you turn to for career advice. What backgrounds, and expertise do they have? What other types of leaders should you add to your board?
4. Be Ready to Change Your Plan
Adaptability as a Superpower
In today’s environment, the ability to adapt is a critical skill. Embrace change and view it as an opportunity for growth. Develop a practice of seeking feedback and reflecting on it to make necessary adjustments.
Mastering the Pivot
Recognize when the environment has shifted and be curious about the changes. Seek feedback, collaborate with others, and create a roadmap to navigate the new landscape. Taking a step back to assess and adjust can lead to significant professional growth.
5. Get Comfortable with Risk
Understanding Your Relationship with Risk
All opportunities involve some level of risk. Reflect on the most significant risks you have taken recently and what drove your decisions. Consider whether you sought perspectives from others or relied on your own counsel. Understanding your relationship with risk can help you make more informed decisions in the future.
Conclusion
Empowering your professional journey means integrating these practices into your career strategy; you can position yourself for sustained growth and success. Remember, leadership is not just about guiding others but also about continually evolving and adapting to new challenges and opportunities.
To start empowering your professional journey, download the free reflection worksheet via the form below. Fill out the worksheet to help you answer these important questions about how you can practice leadership growth.
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about anna & executive horizons
Anna Alvarez Boyd, is the founder of Executive Horizons LLC, a consulting and leadership coaching business. Anna brings over 30 years of experience as a trusted senior leader to her clients. Her coaching starts with the belief that every individual is talented, creative, and whole. She supports clients to deeper self-discovery, through a unique, tailored approach for each person that includes skill building, reflective practices and leadership development.