Introduction
You want a successful career. We all do. But what if we told you that managing yourself is the key to achieving it? Believe it or not, it’s true. According to research, the biggest barrier to a successful career isn’t the economy, the competition, or even our bosses. It’s us.
In other words, our own bad habits and tendencies can stand in the way of our happiness and success at work. But don’t worry – we’re here to help! In this article, we’ll share four tips for managing yourself so you can achieve your career goals.
Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses
The first step to managing your career is to identify your strengths and weaknesses. And we're not just talking about your skills and abilities – this is about your personality traits, too.
Think about the things that come easily to you and the things that give you trouble. What are you confident in? What do you feel like you could work on? This isn't about beating yourself up – it's simply about being honest with yourself. Once you know what your areas of improvement are, you can start focusing on ways to improve them.
Take Strategic Career Breaks
You've probably heard that you should "take a break to avoid burnout." What you may not know is that there's a scientific reason behind this advice.
Burnout isn't just physical fatigue – it's also a state of mental and emotional exhaustion. When you're pushed too hard, for too long, your brain can't keep up. This can lead to problems such as cognitive rigidity (a resistance to change), cynicism and decreased work performance.
That's why it's important to take regular breaks, both during and outside of work. This gives your brain a chance to recharge, and can help you stay motivated and engaged in your work.
One way to take a break is by taking a strategic career sabbatical. This is a planned break from work – usually for several months or a year – that allows you to reset and recharge. It can be a great way to explore new opportunities, learn new skills or simply take some time for yourself.
Develop a Comprehensive Networking Plan
Networking is one of the best things you can do for your career, but it's also one of the most difficult. It's not easy to put yourself out there, and it's even harder to keep up with all the different networking platforms out there.
That's why you need a comprehensive networking plan. This plan will help you stay organized and make the most of your time. It will also help you stay focused on your goals and make sure that you're getting the most out of each interaction.
Your networking plan should include:
-A list of all the networking platforms you're on
-A schedule for when you'll be active on each platform
-A goal for each interaction
-A list of people you want to meet
Establish a Mentorship Relationship
When you manage your career, having a mentor to help guide you can be invaluable. Finding mentors isn’t always easy. Establishing a mentorship relationship can take time and effort, but it’s well worth it.
Start by finding people in your industry who have been in the game for a while and learn from their experiences. You don’t have to be part of a formal program or have an official mentor-mentee relationship; anything that helps you build relationships with experienced professionals who are willing to offer advice and guidance is beneficial.
Your mentor doesn’t have to be in the same industry as you either; you can also look for mentors who operate outside the traditional parameters of your job title and industry. Find someone whose perspective is important, valuable and accessible—and develop meaningful conversations with them about your goals, your progress and how best to achieve success.
Prioritize Work-Life Balance
A successful career isn't just about working hard, but also taking time to recharge and reset. It's so easy to get lost in the race to the top, but it's important to remind yourself that it's okay to take a break when you need it. Don't be too hard on yourself if you don't hit every goal or deadline—sometimes it's best to step away and come back refreshed and ready for what lies ahead.
Make sure you manage your time effectively, set realistic expectations and create boundaries between work and home. This doesn't mean sacrificing ambition or giving up on your goals—it just means making sure you maintain a healthy balance between work and the other facets of your life. When you find that equilibrium, you can keep going strong for the long haul.
Use Technology Wisely to Advance Your Career
Over the last decade, technology has become a critical tool for managing career success. But all the apps and platforms available can be a hindrance as much as a help. You need to figure out what types of technologies will best serve your job search or career advancement goals, and ignore the rest.
For example, LinkedIn is an invaluable tool when it comes to networking. It allows you to connect with other professionals around the world, making it easy to build relationships with people from all kinds of organizations. You can also use sites like Medium, Hired, Stack Overflow and FlexJobs to find job postings that match your skill set and interests.
Finally, don’t forget about the power of Social Media – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are useful for getting your message out there, letting employers know more about who you are and what you have to offer. When used properly, they can be powerful tools in helping you manage your career in a way that helps you achieve your goals.
Conclusion
What it boils down to is that there isn’t one sure path to a successful career. Different things work for different people. But, if you want to manage your career in a way that leads to happiness and satisfaction, you need to be mindful of your habits and tendencies – and be willing to work on them.
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