“I’ve been in this position for four years. My boss drops hints about where I might go from here, but nothing comes of it. I feel stuck. ”
When you have been in a position for a while you may feel like you have reached a plateau. But I think that plateaus are not necessarily bad. They don’t always signal a stalled career. So don’t panic. This is an opportunity to reboot or boot up your career. Ask yourself these three critical questions.
1. Are you assuming your boss will be looking out for you?
Placing primary responsibility on your boss for advancing your career is not a smart move. She’s probably more concerned about her own, especially in these are difficult economic times. So use this time for your own career planning.
2. Is it you or the company that’s the problem?
Are you burned out? Has your last performance appraisal been a downer? The worst thing is to pretend everything’s fine. The problem may be you. What can you do right now to get you back on a success track? However, if you’ve been getting good performance review and have advanced with regularity then most likely, it is not you that has stalled. It may be the company. How well have they dealt with the recent recession? Are they starting to show signs of growth?
3. Is it time for a tune up?
Remember have skills, will travel. Periodically inspect your skills portfolio. Which skills are state-of-the-art and in great demand? Which skills are somewhat rusty that need to be improved? How many are transferable to other areas inside your organization or even outside to other companies or industries?
Smart Moves Tip:
If you career stalls, don’t wait for the career fairy to appear and make everything better. It’s up to you. What career options can you start exploring for challenge, variety, or greater personal satisfaction? What internal training or external seminars will enhance your marketability? Who can mentor you to get your career moving? Also check out Influence Your Boss and Take charge of your career!
Do you know what YOU do today will directly influence your career in 3, 5 or 10 years?
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Copyright © 2011 Marcia Zidle - the Actualizer – career strategist and leadership coach.
Tags: career advancement, career advice, career brand, career management, career satisfaction, emotional intelligence, Marcia Zidle