We all have some career goals in mind. What we want to achieve in our careers, where we see ourselves in 5 years’ time, what skills and expertise we want to develop. It’s great to have these goals, however, we do have a tendency to only think about the big stuff.
By all means, we’re not saying thinking big is a bad thing. You keep reaching for those stars! At the same time, you’ll benefit from breaking down your big goals into much smaller steps. By giving yourself bite-sized steps and goals, you’ll be able to achieve something every day!
Here are three small actions that we would recommend.
1. Read more
We’re not just talking about books here, there are loads of different things you can be reading on a daily basis to improve your career. You can read blog posts and newsletters to keep up with the latest industry news. You may want to download new eBooks and whitepapers that are relevant to your career. Plus, there are plenty of top career books out there that will inspire you.
By reading a little something every day you will be continuously learning and coming across new ideas. Stick with material that you find inspiring and motivating – this shouldn’t be a chore! You’ll also find that reading gives your communication skills a boost.
2. Connect with people
How much time do you think you spend on social media each day? Now think about how much time you actually spend engaging with and talking to people on your social platforms.
LinkedIn is a fantastic place to build your professional network, however, if you’re not engaging with your network you’re wasting an opportunity. If you keep in touch with your connections and colleagues on social media, they’re much more likely to help you out in the future. You never know when a connection can come in handy.
To stay connected with people you should like/comment on some of their statuses, congratulate them on new jobs, drop old friends a message to see if they want to catch up.
You only have to spend a few minutes a day nurturing your network, but the payoffs for your career could be huge.
3. Ask questions
This is one of the easiest actions to incorporate into your day. Asking questions holds so many benefits for you, your career and your working relationships.
By asking about a concept you don’t fully understand you will further your knowledge. By asking your colleagues or boss about their weekend, their journey, or their workload you will improve your relationships. Be curious in meetings and get involved by asking questions. There is always more to learn and ways to improve.
Bringing it all together
Sounds easy right? That’s because it is! Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make a big difference and these three actions can certainly benefit your career both now and in the future. Incorporate them into your day and you’ll see how much you can achieve.