5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Career

You can make great strides in your career without spending long days and nights at the office. Advancing your career is the result of several small strategies. While none of these is likely to make a significant difference by itself, when combined, the results of these five tips can boost your career in impressive ways.

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• Be reliable. We’ve all worked with the employee that couldn’t be trusted. He was the one person you knew wouldn’t be able to keep his promises. Avoid establishing a similar reputation. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Be 100% reliable at all times. Building a firm reputation for integrity can only help you in your quest to advance.  Don't over promise on work items.  Always over deliver.

• Enhance your public speaking abilities. Few of us enjoy public speaking, but those with good presentation skills are in high demand.  They also are considered strongly when promotions come around. Since so few people have the courage to build their skills in public speaking, this can become an area of strength for you.  Need help? Find your local chapter of Toastmasters International and join. ​Or start or join a book club - talking intimately with a small group of friends about topics you enjoy can also build your confidence!​

• Keep your resume (and work esteem) updated. Don't be caught without an updated resume! Who knows when you'll need it? Spend a few minutes each month adding any new, relevant information to your resume. Highlight your strengths and achievement.  Maintain a brag book or brag "e-folder" on your computer where you drop congratulations, positive comments and compliments from peers, and notes on your achievements.  When a good opportunity comes along, you’ll be prepared!
   
• Become hard to replace. Some employees are so valuable that the agency goes out of its way to make them happy. Be sure your employer needs you. How?  Find an important task and master it. Is your agency looking for volunteers to learn a new software program?  Is there an opportunity to take on additional responsibilities.  Don't shy away or yell, "That's not in my damn job description!" This is the time to build that reputation.  

     

• Find a coach. This is a shameless plug!  But, here's the difference between a coach and a mentor. The right mentor will take pride in helping you advance your career. A mentor can provide invaluable advice to you and share what they have learned over the years.  But a coach believes that the answers to your success and your growth lie within you.  A coach helps you design an action plan to move ahead and holds you accountable for results.  You won't be sitting somewhere two months from now, over drinks, lamenting about how they won't promote you at work with your coach.  Maybe a mentor...not your coach.  ​

Avoid following the pack at work.  Lead in your own confident, self-assured way. The average employee may decide to do the least amount of work to keep their paycheck. It isn’t difficult to stand out from the pack by being a little more conscientious. Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Boost your career today by excelling at the little things. Find a coach, too. You’ll be glad you did!
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Andrala Walker is the Chief Career Whisperer at Envision Career Success.  Walker is a globally certified career coach with decades of experience in the nonprofit and government sectors.  She is the creator of  the Career Clarity Coaching system, an author, and speaker. www.envisioncareersuccess.com

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