14 Microchanges Guaranteed
to Advance Your Career
Make these changes and watch your career take off!
As a
career and life coach, I am often asked “how do I advance my career.” I always
advise “depending on your goal you can do an array of things.” Everyone
doesn’t have to perform the same tasks for advancement, however there are some
universal slight changes you can make. I call them microchanges.
It will
amaze you at what a slight change can do for your career.
If you
want a raise or job satisfaction, try these simple tips for taking your work
performance to the next level. They’ll pay off quickly.
Online
Microchanges for Greater Career Success
The
internet is the place to start because it is easy to gain knowledge and promote
your visibility.
1.
Edit your LinkedIn profile. When
was the last time you updated your LinkedIn profile?
I updated mine right before I started my recent job.
I recommend
looking at your profile every 2–3 months to make necessary changes. Let
colleagues see your most recent accomplishments.
2.
Reach out to your network. Reach
out to colleagues you have not spoken to in a while. Reconnect with past
coworkers. You never know who holds the key to open your next door.
3.
Follow industry news. I
can’t stress this one enough. You should always stay abreast with what
your industry is engaged in. Spend a few minutes a day reading an article or
two about what’s happening in your world of business.
4.
Monitor your life. It’s
easy to lose track of time, since we cannot manage it, anyway. Set limits on
your extra-curricular activities. Give yourself time to read and set up systems
in your life.
Offline
Microchanges for Greater Career Success
5.
Face-to-face interactions still have a
dramatic impact. There is nothing like having a great conversation with someone
while getting to know them. Maybe that’s even more true today when so much
communication occurs electronically.
6.
Demonstrate initiative.
Sometimes you will be asked to perform job tasks outside of your job
description. How will you respond? I suggest you show initiative and step up.
7.
Be a team player. Identify
what your manager considers the top business priorities so you know where to
devote your efforts. Find a way to contribute that goes above and beyond your
job description.
8.
Volunteer your assistance. You
can volunteer your time at work or in your community. I suggest you try both.
Find areas of interests and see how you can help.
9.
Speak up. In
every meeting, there is always that one person who says nothing,
and the manager has to call on them, don’t be that person. Make
your voice heard on subject matters of interest. You don’t have to speak at
every meeting, but you should speak at some meetings.
10. Show
enthusiasm. Your manager will trust and value you more if you show that
you’re invested in your career. After all, it is YOUR career. If you don’t have
an interest in it, why would anyone else?
11. Express
gratitude. Let your colleagues know how much you appreciate them all the
time. Gratitude should be an ongoing effort. This does not mean act
unauthentic, it means to show gratitude to your team on different occasions.
Offer sincere praise and share credit for team projects. They’ll be more likely
to return the favor.
12. Dress
for the position you want. Appearances count whether or not you
like it. If your career desires are to be a business manager, how does a
business manager dress?
13.Join a
professional association. I have mentioned this in my previous
writings. There is no better way to meet people in your industry than to join
the industry association. I am a member of a few of them and I love the
connections I have made.
14. Use
your vacation days. According to the Harvard
Business Review, employees who take all of their vacation time have a
6.5% higher chance of receiving a promotion or a raise than their peers who are
stockpiling their time off. Isn’t that amazing? Take the cruise which is my
vacation of choice.
The
average full-time work week in the United States is roughly 42.5
hours long. Wouldn’t it be better for you to have a strategy for career
advancement? These microchanges will help you do a superb job and maintain
harmony in your life.
Marla J. Albertie, is the author of The Ultimate Brag
Book: A hundred questions about how awesome you are. She is a Certified Life
Coach and Corporate Trainer. She blogs owns of the Truth
Speaks Group, LLC, a multi-media coaching company dedicated to creating solutions for
integrating work and life to create harmony. When she is not studying for her
PhD, Marla loves to read, is a concert and comedy show junkie, and a cruiser
for life. Follow Marla on Twitter @tspeakscoaching and IG @Tspeaksgroup
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