Keep your career moving forward

Research shows that the majority of people who are already working are disengaged from their jobs while many others have stagnated in their careers.
According to Mbugua Mumbi, a corporate trainer and CEO of Rebranding Minds, many professionals are passionate when they start working, only to lose this zeal along the way.

From the moment you lose your enthusiasm, become detached and allow others to take charge of your growth, you start parting ways with your career progression, Mbugua says.
He discusses some of the deterrents of professional advancement and how to avoid these for a fulfilling career and life.

Have a destination:
Knowing where you want your career to go makes it easier to work towards that goal. You are able to acquire the necessary ingredients for that goal,

You are accountable for your growth:
You must realise that as a professional, your career progression is your accountability. Your employer, is not responsible for your growth. Always view yourself as a consultant. Be as aggressive as you would be if you were working for your own brand.

Be patient
While it is okay to shift from one job to another, being on the go all the time costs you opportunities that could spur your growth.

Have a plan
You must have a strategic plan of what you hope to achieve within definite timelines. If need be, interrogate why your set goals were unachievable and then make the necessary adjustments and give it another go.

Check your attitude.
The primary determinant of your success and happiness is your attitude. The mentality that “I am working for them” is a destructive philosophy for a professional who desires growth. Your employment needs are the reason you are working in that company. Start regarding your workplace as a school that provides knowledge, skills and experience as the path to your desired life.

Love your job
If you dislike your job, you will complain about it incessantly and occasionally fight with your workmates and bosses. Low productivity, career stagnation and a miserable life will soon follow.

Re-evaluate your progress
If you have stayed on the same job or level for too long and are constantly struggling with burnout, it is time to re-evaluate your progress to save your career from collapse.

Nurture emotional intelligence:
Emotional intelligence is a vital success skill in the 21st century where most workplaces are struggling with digital distractions, which are a threat to productivity.

Adapt fast
The world today is fast-paced, and requires you to be equally fast in continuously learning, unlearning and relearning as you pursue your aspirations.

Enhance your value
Let your career not be just about yourself. Light up other people’s lives as well. You are also inclined to take on any professional hurdles in your quest for growth.

Adapted from Daily Nation