Take charge of your career planning

While the best bosses are concerned with your development, you do have a responsibility to independently take charge of your professional future whenever possible.

Even the most spectacular leaders or HR departments can’t invest 100 per cent in your long-term growth. So, what do you need to do to ensure you are taking the reins when it comes to your career’s future?

Dedicate time to reflection

In the midst of a busy 9 to 5 office life, it can be hard to carve out time for self-reflection. If you’re worried about actually making the time, Harvard Business Review contributor Dorie Clark suggests starting an introspection group with some trusted co-workers. By creating a group and setting dates for meeting, you are more likely to actually make time to think and visualise what you want for the future.

Start by identifying where you are. What do you like about your current position? What isn’t working for you? What do you want out of your next position? Does a role like that exist at your current company? Questions like these will help focus your goals.

Define your action points

Once you have identified what it is that you want, map out some clear action items. In order to achieve your goal what is it that really needs to be done? What is the first step on that path?

It can be easy for goals to get stuck in the ‘idea’ period. In order to ensure you are working towards your goals, it can be hugely helpful to identify concrete actions you can take immediately and in the long term.

Measure your progress

When defining your action points, create some viable KPIs for yourself and be vigilant in tracking your process. This doesn’t mean you need to scrutinise yourself day in and day out. Rather, commit to examining how far you’ve come every 3 months. These periodic checkpoints will allow you to reassess where you are and where you still need to go.

Make sure you are measuring your progress along the way.

Invest in yourself

In the modern job market it is more important than ever to invest in continued development. There is no such thing as too many skills. For those who truly want to take charge of their professional future, enrolling in training programmes is a great stepping stone.

From learning how communicate better in an office environment to working on your influencing skills, ICML has a course for you. Excited to get started planning for the future? We’re keen to help – reach out to one of our reps today!