Alternative Routes to Career Advancement

Perf reviews were always stressful for me. Ask any of my managers. Not because I wasn’t doing my job well but when they would ask me, “What do you want to do?” My answer is, “I don’t know, I guess get a promotion.” Most of the time, my manager could sense the lack of enthusiasm in my voice. But think about it, at its core, performance reviews can be seen as 2 options: Move up: Get a promotion. Move out: Get a new job. Here’s another option that I learned with the more experience gained. Forging my own path. This option is probably the most challenging for a few reasons: -There is no clear “right” or “wrong” answer. -This requires you to take full responsibility for your own career development. -It necessitates confronting yourself with difficult questions. For myself I just knew I love coaching and helping people reframe the way they think about personal and professional development. Here's how I created my own path: 👽 Unique Value Proposition: I started by asking myself, "What do I want to be known for?" This wasn't about inflating my ego but about genuinely understanding my strengths and how I could leverage them. 🤹🏾♂️ Skill Specialization: While passionate about coaching, I recognized the need to specialize to differentiate myself. My coaching approach now integrates neurobiology, mindfulness, somatics, and includes experiences from silent retreats and interactions with mindfulness and coaching experts. 🌍 Community: No path is created in isolation. My community has grown to expert coaches, neuroscientists, tech founders, and seasoned entrepreneurs. 🖼️ The Bigger Picture: Creating my own path wasn’t just about escaping the stress of performance reviews but building a deeper fulfilling career. My goal has been to guide seasoned tech professionals through this very process, reshaping their views on career advancement. Is this easy? Heck no. Is it worth it? That depends on how much you value growth. Choosing to create your own path can be between narrowing your focus on development and becoming a victim of the “traditional” path. How are you choosing to forge your own path today? #reframe #coaching #leadership #innovation #tech #personaldevelopment #careers #leadershipcoaching

"When will I get promoted?" People think that the only way to grow professionally is to get promoted. This may seems like the obvious route, but it is not the only one. Here are some other valuable ways to grow professionally: 1. Learn a new skill: What are you curious about? Learn something beyond your day-to-day role. 2. Mentoring: Seek guidance from experienced mentors or invest in professional coaching to accelerate your growth. Mentor others - Become a mentor and discover the joy of guiding others as they grow. 3. Take ownership on new projects: Take on leadership roles in projects to demonstrate your capabilities and broaden your experience. 4. Network: Create cultivate meaningful connections within and outside your industry to gain insights and opportunities. 5. Continuous Learning: Embrace learning through conferences, workshops, courses, and self-study to stay ahead in your field. 6. Job changes. In the past, career progression often relied on companies determining your path. Nowadays, individuals value autonomy and actively seek to steer their own career trajectories. 7. My favorite: TRAVEL to a new place. I once heard of an executive who before making a major business decision, took time off and traveled to a new place. Traveling opens your horizons, builds resilience and adaptability. You'll get a fresh perspective and find new ways to grow. Remember, professional growth is a multifaceted journey, and there's no single path to success. Your development is supported by exploring these diverse avenues. What other strategies have you found effective in your career growth? Let's discuss in the comments! #learninganddevelopment #talentdevelopment #employeedevelopment #learning #growth #personalgrowth #professionalgrowth

With the current job market slowdown, many find themselves out of work and evaluating new options. As a result, freelance and contract roles are becoming increasingly popular, even for those who may ultimately seek permanent placements. While direct-hire positions can offer more security, benefits, and commitment, independent contractor roles also have compelling advantages: 💪 Independence & Flexibility -Set your own hours and location (Pending project) -Work on varied projects with different clients -No long-term obligation -Greater control over your workload 💸 Earning Potential -Typically higher hourly pay -Faster salary growth opportunities -Potential tax deductions on business expenses 🤝 Career Development -Gain experience across multiple industries and roles -Build entrepreneurial and self-marketing skills -Expand your professional connections and be your own boss 🤑 Other Benefits -Avoid office politics and oversight -Lower risk of being impacted by layoffs -Ability to conclude a contract if you lose interest in a project or company, and dodge looking as "jumpy" on your resume Pursuing a freelance or contract-to-permanent path can be a strategic way to test opportunities before full commitment. Evaluating the pros and cons against your own career stage, financials, risk tolerance and interests is key when mapping out what the best road ahead looks like for you.