If constant improvement at work is your goal, you don’t need to wait around for feedback from your boss to start making career moves. Instead, get ahead of the game by enhancing your skill set on your own. Here are a few ways to get started!
Ask for Feedback
You don’t know what you don’t know. So when you don’t feel you’re getting the feedback you need to develop, ask for it. This can provide you with a strong starting point from which you can begin your skill development and highlight any problem areas where you should be focusing your efforts.
Don’t Discount Soft Skills
Soft skills such as organization, multitasking, and demeanor are so important to your professional persona, but many people don’t focus on developing them along with their “hard” skills. The more effort you put into soft skills, the more you’ll be able to differentiate yourself from your competition.
Stay on Top of Technical Skills
Technology is constantly changing, so advancing your technical skills is not always as easy as it may sound. It requires constant research and openness to innovation. Tech-savvy individuals are more valuable to organizations seeking to gain a competitive advantage.
Do the Research
Reading trade publications, news, and other professional articles can help you stay ahead of your career by making you constantly in the know. Plus, it demonstrates to your managers that you’re on top of industry trends and willing to put in extra work to get things done. This gives you an edge in the long run when it comes time for a promotion.
Become Indispensable
This is a great tip for several reasons, but the most important is that it sets you up for a long-term position at your organization. When you are indispensable, you are the go-to individual for getting projects done or finding solutions. When you’re continually counted on to accomplish tasks, your organization sees how valuable you are to the team. Getting yourself to this place often requires working outside of your job description, going above and beyond, and positioning yourself as an asset to your company.
Have an “Always Improving” Mindset
Don’t take your role for granted. Instead, always be improving your core capabilities. If you’re good at a task, aim to be great. Stay on top of trends and issues, advance your skills, and never take your eye off the prize.
Rather than waiting for that promotion, earn it by enhancing your skills on your own!