Get your career back on track

Here are six solutions that will help you get back on track with your career this year.

1. Take initiative
If your career has not been progressing the way you would have liked, perhaps it is because you have allowed yourself to grow complacent in your role and responsibilities. Show your company you are not only motivated, but a competent leader, by volunteering to head up a new project in 2018.

2. Learn to be more assertive
It is often the case that timid or reserved employees get stuck in a rut. If assertiveness does not come naturally to you, it is time to change your ways. Some people shy away from standing their ground because they do not want to come off as pushy, but the more confidence you exude, and the firmer you are in your decisions, the more people will start to take you seriously.
How do you go from shy to assertive overnight? You don’t -- but you can build up to it over time. For one thing, kick the habit of apologising for disagreeing with others. As long as you’re respectful, that’s not something to be sorry about.

3. Expand your business network
If your career seems to have gotten off course, one of the best things you can do for yourself in the coming year is establish a solid business network. Contrary to what some might believe, your goal in networking should not be to amass the longest list of contacts. Rather, focus your efforts on finding the right contacts and building strong relationships that can help your career.
You might, for example, ask a manager on another team to help you learn about a different area of the business you’re interested in. Or, you might join a professional association and meet key contacts through conferences and events. Knowing the right people will open the door to new opportunities, which will help you revive your career more quickly than you’d think.

4. Learn some new skills
No matter your line of work, there is no such thing as having too many skills. If your career needs a boost, work on expanding your knowledge set next year so that you not only increase your job-related options, but become the sort of worker your employer comes to rely on.

5. Set a measurable goal and hit it
It is not always possible to precisely measure the value a given employee brings to the table. But if you are looking to move your career in the right direction, it pays to establish some goals that are easy to highlight with numbers. This might mean aiming to save your company a particular figure this year if you are on the operations team, or working to increase sales by 10 per cent if you are a marketing manager.
The start of a new year is a great time to reassess your career and work to improve it. Follow these tips, and with any luck, 2018 will be your most successful one yet.

Madison.com