No matter what stage of your career you are in, advice is always helpful. Getting advice should be like doing a puzzle, you fill in the gaps until you have a complete picture. Here are pieces of career advice no one tells you.
Don’t get stuck in your comfort zone
If we never do things that make us uncomfortable, we will never grow. Your perspectives and abilities are like a muscle. The more you challenge them, the more they will adapt and grow. Are you a fast-tracker or more content taking things slow and steady? Depending on how fast and how far you are looking to grow, decide on how often you will challenge yourself. Make your plan and put it on your calendar to venture out on a regular basis. You can ask your boss for a new challenge, ask a teammate for something new you can do to help, or simply do something that gives you butterflies. Just make sure you are doing something that scares you so you give yourself the opportunity to grow.
Under promise and over perform
It’s a balancing act to make commitments that are impressive enough while not risking that you won’t meet the mark. If you have to err, always err on the side of under-promising. Doing what you say you are going to do has become a differentiator in today’s world. If you establish yourself as a person who always delivers what you say you will and more, you will quickly be recognized and also remembered for your integrity which will undoubtedly lead to greater career opportunities. Even more importantly, you yourself will recognize your integrity which is a great confidence builder.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Some people fear asking for help based on how others react. Others are reluctant to ask for help because they feel it is a sign of weakness. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. The ability to say “I don’t know” and to know where your limits are, is a sign of leadership. Asking for help when you need it is the best course of action whether you are leading a team or leading your own job to successful completion. If you have a question, ask. It’s the only way to better yourself.
Be confident
Having confidence in what you do can increase your productivity. The reason for that is because your motivation is very dependent on your confidence. If you feel like you need to build confidence, ask a mentor or someone you trust who can help you open up about where and why you lack confidence so you can create a strategy to begin building it. Remember, truly confident people are also some of the most humble people in the world. Don’t confuse “self-confidence” with “ego-confidence”. One form is genuine and the other is fake.
Accept that you won’t love 100% of your job
There are always aspects of the job that might be less than enjoyable for you. It’s ok if that happens. You can use the things that you enjoy the least into motivators. For example, if you love task A but dislike task B, then use task A as a reward for completing task B. Also, if you and a colleague enjoy different things, you might explore dividing things up so you each do what you enjoy the most, more of the time. At the very least, it’s an opportunity for self-reflection and learning. There are always ways to make the best of things and learn through the process.
You should always be hunting for ways to better yourself and your career. These are just some of the tips that we wish that we would have heard earlier in our careers, but it’s never too late! If you have any advice that you wish you heard, feel free to share them! You can email us at info@franklinprofessionals.com
