By Robin Mladinich CPCC, ACC
Senior Consultant, TLG
Did you achieve your career aspirations in 2022? Now is the time to reflect on what you want to bring into this new year, what you want to leave behind, and how you might advance your career.
The Great Resignation is still going strong, and older, more tenured workers are leading the pack. People woke from the pandemic thinking that when life goes back to normal, is this the life I want? These workers are searching for less tangible benefits like meaning and flexibility. Do you want to recharge your career or make a career change but not sure where to start? Follow these five steps to advance your career in 2023.
1. Find Your Why
“The two most important days in life are the day you born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain. Why do you do what you do? Are you feeling detached from your purpose? Take the time to clarify your purpose and what is next for you. “Find Your Why” by Simon Sinek provides a hands-on, step-by-step guide to help you find your why. Make a career strategy plan for achieving your purpose and find an accountability partner who will hold you to it.
2. Network
We all know that networking can open doors for us, but we often put it on the back burner until we need a job. Have coffee with someone you haven’t spoken with in a while, check out industry events in your area, and commit to being more active on LinkedIn. If you are looking at a complete career change, interview people in that industry of interest. What are your transferrable and translatable skills? What reskilling do you need for this new field?
3. Invest in Yourself
First, I think that an inclusive leader, by definition, is a leader, and leadership is how you use your influence to move people in a direction. To do that, you must model the way for those who follow you. With that said, if you want to show inclusive leadership, you must model it. You can’t say “I will do this” and then tell me “You do that.”
4. Take a Leap
Is fear getting in the way of you making a change? Challenge yourself to leave the job that makes you unhappy and say yes to that next career opportunity. Determine the compensation that you need to make and also what you want to make. Evaluate the non-tangible gains. Will making a lateral move or taking less money get you to career fulfillment faster?
5. Create a Good Work/Life Balance
Create boundaries to protect your personal time and increase your confidence and well-being. Are you attached to your phone? Commit to not checking your email past 6 pm. Make dates with your family and friends instead. By prioritizing sleep, healthy eating and exercise – you will help create a better balance that will leave you feeling less stressed.
“A year from now you may wish you had started today,” – Karen Lamb. Don’t let another year pass before you start taking steps to live your purpose and advance your career!