Tips for Proactive Career Growth

If you're a Director, Principal, or senior-level professional, here's a valuable insight for navigating the competitive job market: Proactively engaging in networking, resume updates, and clarifying your value before the need arises is crucial. Waiting until job necessity strikes is often too late, as many have realized in hindsight. Having guided numerous professionals through career transitions, I frequently hear the regretful sentiment of not taking proactive steps earlier. To simplify your next job search, consider these three proactive measures: Cultivate your "just in case" network: -Reconnect with former managers, peers, and industry contacts regularly. -Engage in simple check-in messages with 1–2 former colleagues weekly. -Interact on posts of potential future collaborators. -Provide value and share resources without immediate expectations. -Maintain a concise list of 15–20 key contacts for ongoing engagement. -Maintain a detailed "career log": -Document all significant achievements, metrics, and team successes promptly. -Utilize a digital tool (e.g., Google Doc, spreadsheet) for organized record-keeping. -Include project details, actions taken, outcomes achieved, and relevant skills. -Incorporate quotes or positive feedback from superiors or clients. -Update this log monthly to ensure accuracy and consistency. -Regularly update your LinkedIn profile: -Tailor your headline to align with desired roles and industry keywords. Revise the "About" section to showcase recent accomplishments and outcomes. -Highlight quantifiable achievements and data-driven impacts in your current role. -Secure fresh recommendations periodically. -Add new skills or certifications to enhance your profile's relevance. Remember, preparation is key to avoiding last-minute chaos. By investing in these proactive strategies, you equip your future self with a significant advantage. Additional practices to consider: -Participate in industry events, conferences, or webinars to maintain visibility and stay up-to-date. Seek out mentorship opportunities or join professional associations relevant to your field. Continuously develop new skills or take courses to expand your expertise. Engage in volunteer work or community initiatives to showcase your leadership and dedication.

MYTH: "Just do great work, and they will notice." Spoiler alert: They won't. I believed this myth for years, and it made me feel like I was running on a treadmill. Technical skill is the ticket to the game. But strategic visibility is how you win. This lesson hit me hard back in my very first engineering job. I’d finish my huge tasks early, and then, without telling anyone, I'd jump in to fix my slower teammate’s backlog. Why? For “the good of the team." I was doing double the work. But here’s what my manager saw: A team hitting its goals. I got zero extra credit. Zero strategic impact. I was trading my personal energy for invisible effort. So, I started using this simple, practical framework to make sure my effort was impossible to ignore. 1. Stop Being Quiet (Own Your Scope) 🤫 Don't let your work just speak for itself. It's shy! 🤫 Start by explicitly defining what you are crushing and by when. 🤫 When you finish early, immediately close the loop: "I completed Project X two days ahead of schedule, which cleared the roadblock for Team Y." You must own the narrative of your success. 2. Shout When You're Free (The Proactive Ask) 📣 The moment you are done, don't silently grab the next item. That's a fail. 📣 Proactively broadcast your bandwidth to the right people (your manager, a key exec): "My core deliverables are complete. I now have time to tackle a new, high-leverage strategic challenge." 📣 This reframes your capacity as a strategic asset, not just "free time." 3. Get Credit for the Choice (Frame the Impact) 🖼️ The extra work is still the extra work. But now, you get credit for a strategic choice to solve a new, valuable problem. 🖼️ You weren't just "picking up slack." You chose to use your free capacity to deliver additional business value. It makes all the difference when it’s time to talk career growth. We lie to ourselves that being the smartest or hardest worker is enough to lead. It isn't. You need to master the simple science of making your impact visible. #LinkedInNewsUK #TechLeadership #CareerMyth – I share actionable frameworks and real-world stories for tech leaders. 👉 Follow me, Rony Rozen, to get them in your feed.

*5 tips to plan my career like I plan my product* One of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard for career growth is “Build your career like you would your product.” One leader I worked with took this thinking a step further with an analogy I love: “If you were your product, what changes would you make — and when will you ship your next version?” Of course, it often feels a little selfish to focus on my personal growth when there’s so much urgent work piling up in my inbox. But I've found investing just 1-2 hours not only gives me fresher eyes on my day-to-day problems, it's also a service to the people around me. How can I support my team through bigger problems every day unless I’m getting better too? 5 tactics that have worked for me: 1. Every year I write a “year in review” vision (link in comments), inspired by an amazing leader and former colleague, Carolyn Everson — basically writing a press release for the “product” of the upcoming year. This forces me to actually get realistic about my goals, so instead of thinking to myself “I'd like to take more family trips this year,” I map out how it will actually happen. 2. Write 1-2 personal growth goals into my performance reviews at work every half and share them with my manager and team. I include deliverables, tactics, and goals, just as I do for product plans. That means I can't use “Get better at writing” as a goal — I have to think about how many pieces I want to publish, how much time I'm willing to devote to them, and how I'll know when I'm successful. Sharing my goals with my team also creates the permission and accountability for getting it done. 3. Recognize what’s working by frequently asking myself, “What have I learned recently?” Just like looking at a dashboard to understand where a product is successful, asking this question every few months helps me identify growth in myself that I might not even have recognized. Once I recognize and name the skills I'm learning, I end up using those skills more proactively. And I build a stronger feedback loop about what I’m learning, so I'm more likely to keep learning new things in the future. 4. Do “customer research” with my colleagues by asking, “If I were to step into my manager’s job *today*, what gaps would keep me from being successful?” For a long time I thought “no feedback” translated into “good feedback.” But just like doing market research for a product, asking for personal feedback highlights "feature requests" for skills I didn't even know I needed. 5. Iterate and evolve. No matter how well I plan, I can’t control outcomes. Some ideas are great but it’s not the right time, some directions don’t work and I’ll need to pivot.  I need to give myself time and grace to learn as I go and keep trying new things. What helps you prioritize your growth? (This is part of an ongoing series about product, leadership, and scaling! For regular updates, subscribe to amivora.substack.com)

A recent conversation with a mentee trying to navigate the next steps in their career reminded me of an essential rule I always emphasize: You own your career, therefore you have to be in the driver's seat. They recently received some feedback from their manager that was confusing as it didn’t align with previous feedback. The conversation on next steps was very vague. Reality check: waiting for clear guidance or validation from others can leave you stuck in neutral. Instead, you must proactively manage your own career path. Here are a few things I suggested: 1. Do a Self-Assessment You need to understand your strengths, weaknesses, passions, and career aspirations. Identify what excites you and where you see yourself in the future. Remember they can all change due to new experiences and gaining new skillsets. 2. Seek Constructive Feedback While feedback from leadership is valuable, it’s important to triangulate. Reach out to mentors, peers, and others in your function that you admire for their insights. Feedback is just one piece of the puzzle. Use it as a tool for improvement, not as a definitive roadmap. You never know when you might run into an unconscious bias. 3. Continuous Learning and Development I’m ever curious and always looking for learning opportunities. Look for opportunities to learn from other functions. The business world is continusly changing, and staying on top of the game, requires investing time to learn. Stay informed about your current industry trends but also look for best practices in others. 4. Advocate for Yourself People can’t read your mind, so they don’t know what your career goals and aspirations are. Don’t be afraid to articulate them to your leadership. Express your interest in new projects, responsibilities, or roles that align with your goals. 5. Adaptability and Resilience Career paths are rarely linear. My own has been a lattice. Be adaptable. Embrace challenges and view setbacks as learning experiences. Being in the driver's seat of your career means taking an intentional role in your professional development. While others can give you guidance, the ultimate responsibility for your career lies with you. What else would you tell him?

What if career growth wasn’t just about luck, but about following proven strategies? These actionable steps helped immensely in my career growth. 1. Excel in Your Current Role (Most Critical): Consistently meet or exceed expectations. A proven track record builds the foundation for future opportunities. 2. Align with Organization Goals: Understand your organization’s top priorities and demonstrate how your work contributes directly to them. 3. Seek Feedback Actively: Ask for constructive insights and act on them. This commitment to growth truly makes a difference. 4. Develop New Skills: Invest in training and learning opportunities to stay current with industry trends and keep your skills sharp. 5. Network Internally: Build relationships across departments. Gaining visibility beyond your immediate team shows you’re a collaborative team player. 6. Volunteer for New Assignments: Step up to take on responsibilities beyond your current role. Initiative today can lead to larger opportunities tomorrow. 7. Express Your Career Aspirations: Have open conversations with your manager about your professional interests and goals. It’s not just about a promotion—it’s about sharing where you see your future and how you plan to contribute to the company’s success. 8. Mentoring: Seek mentors to accelerate your learning and also become a mentor to others to support their growth. 9. Maintain Integrity and Authenticity: Express your genuine views respectfully. Authenticity sets you apart and builds lasting trust. 10. Stay Resilient and Patient: Career growth takes time. Keep delivering excellence and demonstrating your value—the results will follow. What strategies have helped you achieve your career goals? I’d love to hear your story! #leadership #career #technology

Careers don’t grow on autopilot. They grow when you choose to. I had a client reflect this week that Early in her career, she thought success was straightforward: Work hard. Keep your head down. Wait for recognition. But it doesn’t work like that. Here are the harsh truths nobody tells you about career growth, and what to do instead: 1️⃣ Own your path Nobody will care as much as you do. → Build your plan and systems, not excuses → Decide and act like the CEO of your career 2️⃣ Skills compound outside your 9–5 Your role won’t give you everything you need. → Spend 15-20 mins a day learning → Add one new skill every month (or even quarter) 3️⃣Include visibility in your plan Hard work means little if no one sees it. → Share progress regularly with key people → Speak up about your goals clearly 4️⃣ Preparation creates “luck” What looks like chance is really consistency. → Create habits that support your goals → Practise before the opportunity arrives (for 3 &4, see an article I wrote on increasing the surface area of your luck) https://lnkd.in/gzEHtj8B 5️⃣ Growth requires letting go You may need to leave to grow. → Audit your role against your goals → Move when alignment starts to fade 6️⃣ Setbacks are stepping stones Progress comes from lessons, not perfection. → Reflect on what didn’t work → Apply one improvement next time What would you add to the list?

Don’t Wait to Be Discovered—Move with Intention, Not Permission! If you’re a business analysis professional waiting for someone to hand you your next opportunity, it’s time to flip the script. Career growth doesn’t come from waiting in the wings—it comes from stepping into the arena. That means volunteering for stretch assignments, raising your hand for new initiatives, pursuing certifications, and proactively shaping your path. Here are 3 smart steps to start building a career that moves you forward: 🔹 Be visible. Join professional communities, speak up in meetings, and showcase your work. People can’t support your growth if they don’t know what you’re capable of. 🔹 Keep learning. Whether it’s formal education, self-paced courses, or real-world projects—stay curious and build the skills that tomorrow’s roles will demand. 🔹 Pursue aligned opportunities. Not every open door leads somewhere meaningful. Be intentional about roles and projects that align with the impact you want to make. Early in my career, I took initiative by reaching out to a young organization called IIBA. That single action led to decades of opportunity—volunteering, leading the development of BABOK Guide, v3 shaping numerous global standards, and mentoring professionals across the world. Your next step won’t look exactly like mine—but the principle is the same. Own your career. Explore, contribute, and be endlessly curious. This profession rewards those who take initiative. 👉 For inspiration on how business analysis can lead to incredible, diverse opportunities, check out my latest feature in IIBA’s Business Analysis Blueprint: https://lnkd.in/gfpAXihA 👉 And if you're ready to take action, my course Building a Successful Business Analysis Career on LinkedIn Learning is a great place to start. Let’s stop waiting for doors to open—and start building our careers, because you already hold the keys. I’m tagging a few outstanding business analysis mentors and coaches (and there are many) who can help you reach your career goals. Follow them, connect with their work, and explore their LinkedIn Learning courses, books, and podcasts —they’re valuable voices in our field. We’re part of an incredible community. Let’s continue to support and uplift one another as we grow, lead, and thrive together. Angela Wick Jamie Champagne Laura Brandenburg, ACBA, CBAP Yulia Kosarenko Susan A. Moore, CBAP, AAC, PMI-PBA, PMI-ACP #BusinessAnalysis #BusinessAnalyst #IIBA #CareerDevelopment 

You are already juggling a hundred priorities. But here’s the question: 𝐈𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦? We all know that the workplace is changing fast. Staying still is not safe anymore. DBS Bank just launched a Gen AI-powered virtual coach to help employees navigate toward their dream roles within the bank. Links to article in comments. This reflects a bigger shift that we are seeing in companies across industries. Leaders are asking: How do we help people take charge of their careers? At Influence Solutions, we are working with more organisations to forge growth-oriented cultures and foster career ownership at every level. The truth is that helping people to grow is not just the job of HR, it is a leadership priority. Our 𝐅.𝐈.𝐑.𝐒.𝐓. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 has been helping organisations stay ahead of the curve by empowering leaders and teams to become more future ready, innovative, relevant, strategic and trusted over the years. We find that the urgency for strong leadership maturity across all levels is bigger than ever. And yes, we are also quietly developing AI-powered coaching agents to support development in real time. Thought it is early days, we are seeing tremendous possibilities. 𝐒𝐨 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 5 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥: 1. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐩. You do not need to wait for formal reviews. Ask people you trust what you could do better and listen with curiosity. The best part is that the act of asking someone for feedback deepens trust. 2. 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝.  What do you want to be known for? The clearer you are, the more you start showing it, and the more it amplifies. 3. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. Do not just focus on the skills of today, but also the skills of tomorrow. You can easily borrow e-books/audio books via library apps, and attend free courses from renowned universities on Coursera etc. 4. 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.  If your performance manager hasn't scheduled one with you, do it yourself. Discuss with him or her where you want to go, how you plan to get there are seek support. The best part is your proactive approach signals your leadership attitude, which is what managers value when they look for people to groom. 5. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞.  Don't wait for your pitch to be perfect or when you are 100% ready. Be curious, arrange your own informational interviews with contacts across functions, departments and seniority. Remember the best opportunities (and ideas) come from weak ties. Readiness is not about knowing all the answers. It’s about being willing to grow. Let's encourage each other in this growth journey!

When I first started at my company, I was eager to take on more responsibilities but hesitant to speak up. I worried that my request might be seen as overreaching. Then, a mentor gave me invaluable advice: "Opportunities are rarely given; they’re taken." This changed everything for me. Here’s a step-by-step guide based on my journey to help you leap: ➙ Self-Assessment 📝: Before asking for more, evaluate your current workload. Are you consistently meeting your deadlines and excelling in your tasks? This will show that you're ready for additional responsibilities. ➙ Identify Areas for Growth 🔍: Look for gaps in your team or company where you can add value. It could be a project that's been neglected or a new initiative that aligns with your skills. ➙ Prepare Your Case 📊: Approach your manager with a clear plan. Highlight your achievements, explain how you can contribute more, and detail the benefits to the team and company. ➙ Show Enthusiasm and Commitment 💪: Demonstrate your passion for growth. Enthusiasm is contagious and shows that you're genuinely invested in your role and the company's success. ➙Be Ready for Challenges 🚀: Taking on more means stepping out of your comfort zone. Be prepared to tackle new challenges and show resilience. After implementing these steps, I not only got the additional responsibilities I wanted but also gained the trust and respect of my colleagues and superiors. My career growth skyrocketed, and I felt more fulfilled in my role. Big Lesson: Don't wait for opportunities to come to you. Take charge of your career by proactively seeking out more responsibilities. You'll grow, learn, and stand out as a proactive, driven professional. How Do You Go About It? 📞Regularly communicate with your manager about your career aspirations. 📞Seek feedback and use it to improve continuously. 📞Network within your company to identify potential growth opportunities. Have you successfully asked for more responsibilities? Share your experiences and tips below! Let’s inspire each other to take control of our career paths. 🚀 ————————————————————————— Meeting me for the first time? I’m Rudy Malle, a clinical researcher dedicated to improving public health outcomes, and a career advisor helping ordinary professionals take their careers to the next level to enhance visibility for individuals and companies. #CareerAdvancement #ProfessionalGrowth #TakeTheLead #WorkplaceTips #CareerAdvice #LinkedInCommunity #personaldevelopment #20daylinkedinchallengewithhaoma #rudyhacks

the hard truth about career advancement: only 30% of professionals are doing what's required to grow rapidly (when its their priority). the other 70% stay stuck. i know this because i have watched it for 20+ years. i can pinpoint the exact behaviors that separate advancers from the pack. these principles predict career trajectory regardless of company logo, industry, or whether you landed on some "top" list. the 4 principles of accelerated career growth: 1. show up for the job you want, not the one you have. most professionals wait for formal permission or title changes before taking on advanced responsibilities. the top performers identify critical gaps and fill them without being asked. they create their future role through consistent, strategic overdelivery in areas that matter to the business. 2. master consistent execution without supervision. brilliance is worthless without reliability. the ability to consistently deliver quality output without reminders or management intervention creates exponentially more opportunities than occasional genius. set your own deadlines and beat them religiously. 3. develop change resilience. in today's market, your specialized knowledge becomes obsolete rapidly. what separates high-trajectory professionals isn't what they know—it's their capacity to abandon previous expertise and pivot hourly when circumstances demand it. ego attachment to "how things were done" is career suicide. 4. build intellectual flexibility. the highest-paid professionals aren't necessarily the smartest—they're the most adaptable. they actively seek contradictory viewpoints, instantly absorb new information, and immediately incorporate superior approaches without defensive resistance. the high performers will read this and know exactly what to do. #PR #communications #marketing #career #growth #executive