You're looking to advance your career. What's the best way to get ahead?

As a Transformational coach and Advisor for Leaders I often mention the importance of purpose for any type of growth. Defining your purpose is foundational in the journey of advancing your career. This step is about understanding what motivates you, what you're passionate about, and where you see yourself making the most impact. A well-defined purpose serves as your north star, guiding your decisions, actions, and the paths you choose to explore. When you clearly articulate your purpose, it not only fuels your drive and ambition but also resonates with others — be it potential employers, clients, or collaborators. People are drawn to individuals who have a strong sense of direction and are passionate about what they do.

One of your sources of powers is your purpose, which can be defined in terms of a life mission and vision statement. Vision and mission are big and sometimes vague words. Through a blending of coaching, mentoring and workshop (if small group), you can discover your purpose by defining your mission and vision. What can help during the discovery process is visualization. The executive coach can guide you to imagine your day from morning until evening (not just at work but in all aspects of life) in 1/3/5 years time ~ which forms your vision! How you get there then becomes your mission.

To advance a career in executive coaching, focus on obtaining relevant education and certifications from reputable programs. Gain practical experience by working with clients and organizations, and consider specializing in niche areas within executive coaching to differentiate yourself. Build a strong professional network, stay updated on industry trends through continuous learning, and develop a professional brand and online presence to attract clients and establish credibility. Seek mentorship and supervision to accelerate your growth, adhere to ethical standards, and uphold professionalism to build trust and credibility in the field.

Continuously improve your skills, network actively, seek feedback, and take on challenging projects to showcase your capabilities and ambition.

1. First identify and define WHO YOU ARE PROFESSIONALLY What you are an expert in, what you specialise in What are your key experiences What are your key competences 2. Define WHAT YOU WANT TO DO What do you want to do professionally? What roles do you want to take on? What companies do you want to work in? What is expected of employees taking on these roles? 3. Find out WHAT YOU NEED TO TAKE INTO NEW ROLES and be an ATTRACTIVE CANDIDATE 4. BUILD YOUR NETWORK Who can give you knowledge about the market you want to expand into? Does your network know what you do, what you do professionally?

Discovery of purpose is the first step. Doing something about it to develop the power within is the next. To get started with the development process, goals have to be set. First, critically reflect. To reflect is to ask questions like: What did I do that has brought me closer to fulfilling my purpose ? What can I do better, how, to whom or with whom? What resources do I need to achieve these & how? Second, make a chewable SMART action plan. Actions keep you moving forward. To move forward, you need to identify the priority tasks, outputs required, specific timelines, resources needed.  Make it SMART! Third, set up for consistent execution. The keys are setting up your routines for consistency and reinforcing discipline & accountability.

Setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals is essential for career advancement. This structured approach ensures clarity and focus, turning vague ambitions into actionable plans. By doing so, you create a roadmap with specific milestones, making it easier to track progress and adjust strategies as needed. This method not only boosts motivation by celebrating small wins but also aligns your efforts with your long-term career vision, ensuring every step taken is a step closer to your ultimate objectives. Adopting such a disciplined approach is a powerful catalyst for professional growth and success. However, don't forget to align it with your intuition and update/adjust your plan along the way.

Give me 6 hours to chop down a tree & I will spend the first 4 sharpening the ax. ~A. Lincoln How can we sharpen the ax?First, the key to mastery is the repetition. Shortcuts usually short-change the payoff. Results become inconsistent over time when you just wing it. It’s about sharpening the ax 4 out of 6 hours. Second, have an open heart & mind to receive feedback. It takes humility to truly listen & courage to take the needed actions to improve & raise the bar. Third, don’t settle long. There’s a danger to be so comfortable that you become complacent & stop growing. Growth happens beyond comfort zone. Remember the difference between a sharp and a dull ax & how a sharpened one can maximize your natural strength or power. 

I have seen it be very successful to ask questions of managers and senior leadership to understand their priorities and reasons for certain goals. That allows you to consider your natural talents and how to apply them in higher visibility ways that can accelerate you reaching your personal and team goals.

Your network is golden! Cultivating relationships before you actually need them is key to growing and developing in your career. Relationships are just as much about how you can serve the other person as they are about getting support from others. Be intentional about creating win-win situations for you and others.

The best way to advance your career and land a new role is through your network. It is critical to spend time reaching out individuals in your desired field to get to know people and develop meaningful relationships. You can attend in-person or virtual events, joining communities, volunteering, and reaching out to your alumni network. Remember to always thank the individual for their time and be extremely respectful and courteous when networking.

Building your network is essential. We need people in our corner, who can support us, refer & recommend us, and connect us with opportunities. As well as people who we can share our thoughts and concerns with, problem-solve with, and importantly have a laugh with! Not only does this help with advancing your career, it also makes the journey feel so much more rewarding.

For many of us, networking frequently creates a feeling of discomfort. We may wish that our hard work and great results would sufficiently advocate for us and our careers. Being in hybrid and remote environments have only increased the complexity of networking and staying on radars. Despite the new complexities, networking, and staying on radars are still critical factors for career success. Start small and set a schedule for yourself. Reach out to colleagues who have moved to new teams. Engage with your connections on LinkedIn. Use pre and post meeting time.

People often underestimate their network so ask yourself this initial question: What does your existing network actually look like? (Usually, it'll transpire that your network is bigger than you'd initially thought). The second question to ask is then: How can you keep expanding and leveraging your network? Whether you're extroverted or introverted, there are so many online and in-person platforms, communities, and organisations available for networking that you just need to try a few until you find one where you're comfortable, you can add value, and you'll benefit from being there too.

Showcasing your value in the professional realm involves a strategic blend of visibility, impact, and personal branding. Start by consistently delivering high-quality work that exceeds expectations, which establishes your reputation as a reliable and skilled professional. Actively contribute to team successes and organizational goals, ensuring your efforts are visible to key stakeholders and decision-makers. Engage in thought leadership within your industry by publishing articles, speaking at conferences, or participating in panels, which positions you as an expert in your field. Leverage social media and professional networks to share your achievements, insights, and experiences, further amplifying your professional image.

When you're looking to advance your career, it's so important to know your strengths and the value and impact these have. This is simple to say but in my experience, many people struggle to articulate all the brilliant results they've had and impact they've made. We can't be shy about this stuff - unfortunately our work won't speak for itself (however much we wish it did!). Visibility of your value is imperative.