Career Growth is something that every career focused individual needs to focus on from the very start. There are several factors that contribute to growth. You can take the moral high ground and say, I will let my work speak for myself but sooner or later, you would get fed up. It is better to think about your growth from the beginning and quickly identify the levers
- At the very start of your career, the work you do and the quality of your delivery will be a bigger factor in your growth. As your experience grows, the weightage of work reduces.
- Your attitude, aptitude, ability to influence people and leadership skills are extremely important. Trust me this is not bookish gyaan. If you have a negative attitude and are in constant complaint mode, it kills your likability. If people don’t like you they would not want to work with you unless you are an absolute genius. That takes away good opportunities and in turn hampers growth. You may be extremely likeable but if you don’t have the aptitude for your job, you wont be able to do it well. You may be both likable and great at your job but if you can’t convince others of your work and subsequently your value, then you slip down the growth list.
- If you don’t ask, you won’t get it. It took me years to wrap my head around this one. I always wanted to be noticed and appreciated for my work. I was foolish enough to believe that if I work well, the growth will come. It does not. You have to ask for it. Growth comes in terms of newer opportunities, critical projects, professional development programmes and the like. You need to prove your mettle and then the growth comes in terms of rising the corporate ladder. For each of these, you have to ask. You have to show a keenness to grow. The only person truly interested in your growth is you!
- In today’s fast moving industries, it is possible to change jobs every year and achieve a phenomenal growth in a very short time. In the long run, it is harmful for you. If you have a reputation of being a fast mover, an organisation would not want to invest in you. People will think twice before backing you or sticking their neck out for you. There is nothing wrong in getting a varied experience, but that has to be done at an even pace and in a way that it adds to your skills and experience. Frequent job hops for higher pay are actually frowned upon.
