How to Advance Your Career with Actionable Strategies

I spent too many years thinking my boss was responsible for my career. Or the company. Or a magical fairy godmother. I thought it was everyone else’s job to advocate for me. To push me. To help me advance and grow. And I completely missed the fact that it was me. It was always ME. Our job is to be the biggest advocate for our careers. We are in the driver’s seat. And we can’t take a back seat and expect someone else to do the driving. Here are ten ways to start advocating for your career not tomorrow, TODAY: 1️⃣ Take a seat at front of the table, not at the back of the room. Be visible. Log onto that Zoom early, make sure people know you are there. Don’t shrink to the corner of the screen or room. 2️⃣ Raise your hand 🙋🏾♀️ Ask that question. Show you’re engaged and thoughtful and there to contribute. I always ask a question early on in the meeting to build my confidence to contribute more later. 3️⃣ Ask to be put on that assignment Make sure you are working on assignments that are priorities for the company. Especially in this market. 4️⃣ Coach your peers on their work You don’t have to have direct reports to have influence. Guide peers who ask for your help: position yourself for the next level by acting like you are at the next level. 5️⃣ Build a career development plan If your boss won’t help you do this, ask a colleague to be a sounding boarding or a friend outside of work. Understand what your goals are this year and what you want your next two roles to be. 6️⃣ Focus on one new skill you want to build What’s one new skill you want to learn that can help with your career growth? Pick it and commit to it. Block 30 minutes on your calendar daily to work on it. Make this time non negotiable. 7️⃣ Take credit for your work Even if they won’t let you in that meeting, share what you are working on with others. Whether that’s it in 1:1 conversations or in team meetings, make sure you let others know the impact you are making. 8️⃣ Get meaningful feedback If your boss keeps saying you’re killing it or avoids giving your feedback, ask others. Show up with what you think your strengths are and areas of opportunity to get their reactions. 9️⃣ Keep a track of your wins Start a Google doc or grab a notebook, and down all of your wins and the end of every month. This makes it easier to do your self evaluation during performance review time and update your resume. 🔟 Always have your resume ready Whether you are looking for internal or external, always have your resume ready. And make sure it’s not saved on your work lap, especially in this market where layoffs are happening every day. How do you advocate for yourself at work? #leadership #culture #inclusion #MitaMallick

Are You Stalling Your Own Career Growth? You’re ready for the next big step—whether it’s a promotion or a new opportunity elsewhere—but something is holding you back. It’s not a lack of ambition, qualifications, or capability. It’s the concern that there’s no one to backfill your role. This is especially challenging if you want to move up within the same company. You’ve become indispensable, and that can feel more like an obstacle than an advantage. Leadership sees your value right where you are. If you’re feeling stuck because your current role depends too much on you, consider these three strategies: 1. Develop Your Successor Now Proactively mentor and upskill a team member who could take on key aspects of your role. This not only helps you, but it also demonstrates strategic foresight and leadership—qualities that make you an even stronger candidate for advancement. 2. Redefine ‘Value’ in Your Organization Being indispensable in your current position can limit mobility. Shift the perception of your value from doing the work to elevating the organization. Communicate how you can drive impact at a higher level and how a well-planned transition benefits the company long-term. 3. Make the Case for a Structured Transition Rather than waiting for leadership to solve the backfill issue, present a clear transition plan. Show how your move can be managed effectively—whether through interim solutions, process documentation, or a phased transition. Executives want solutions, not roadblocks. One of my clients expressed wanting to stay at her current organization, but she felt trapped—she was ready for the next level, but leadership hesitated to move her because there was no clear successor. We worked together to identify a high-potential team member she could mentor while documenting key processes to ensure a smooth transition. Concurrently we worked on a way she could pitch herself into a newly created role around her skillset that would serve a need for the organization. (In my Career Velocity program we call that "Write & Pitch Your Job Description." It worked!) By proactively presenting a succession plan, she shifted leadership’s perception of her from indispensable in her role to indispensable to the company’s future. Within months, she secured the promotion, confident her team was set up for success. Staying stuck isn’t an option for high performers. The best leaders don’t just fill roles—they build pathways for future success. If you want to move up, start paving the way today. #CareerVelocity #QualifiedIsntEnough #jobs

Climb the Career Ladder with These Promotion Tips 👇 Ready to take your career to the next level? Use these actionable strategies to stand out, impress leadership, and earn that promotion! 📈 Tip 1: Excel in Your Current Role Before aiming for a promotion, make sure you’re consistently exceeding expectations in your current role. Deliver high-quality work, meet deadlines, and show reliability—this builds trust and demonstrates you’re ready for more responsibility. 📈 Tip 2: Communicate Your Goals Let your manager know you’re interested in growing within the company. Schedule a conversation to discuss your career aspirations and ask for feedback on what skills or milestones you need to achieve to get there. 📈 Tip 3: Take Initiative Go beyond your job description by volunteering for new projects or solving problems before they’re assigned to you. Proactively contributing to the team’s success shows leadership potential and sets you apart. 📈 Tip 4: Build Strong Relationships Network within your organization by connecting with colleagues across departments. Building rapport with peers and leaders helps you stay top of mind when new opportunities arise. 📈 Tip 5: Develop New Skills Identify the skills needed for the role you want and start building them now. Whether it’s mastering a new software, improving communication, or taking leadership courses, investing in yourself shows you’re serious about growth. 📈 Tip 6: Be a Problem-Solver Instead of bringing up problems, come prepared with solutions. For example: “I noticed this process could be streamlined—here’s an idea that could save us time.” Problem-solvers are invaluable assets to any team. 📈 Tip 7: Ask for Feedback Regularly Seek constructive feedback from your manager and coworkers to identify areas for improvement. Actively working on their suggestions shows self-awareness and a commitment to growth. 📈 Tip 8: Showcase Your Achievements Don’t be shy about highlighting your contributions. Keep track of your accomplishments and share them during performance reviews or team meetings to ensure leadership knows the value you bring. 📈 Tip 9: Be a Team Player Support your coworkers, celebrate their successes, and contribute to a positive work environment. Being someone others enjoy working with makes you an obvious choice for leadership roles. 📈 Tip 10: Stay Patient but Persistent Promotions don’t happen overnight—stay consistent in your efforts and keep demonstrating your readiness for the next step. If opportunities aren’t opening up, explore ways to grow within or outside the organization. 👉 Follow me for more career growth tips! 🔄 Share this post to help others achieve their professional goals! Want more great AI tips and news? Join my free weekly newsletter at https://rodman.ai/news/