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Tag: Career ladder

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New year, New Job, New You

New year, new job, new you

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You’ve had time to reflect over the summer break and you’ve come to the decision that a new job is on your list of goals for the year. Good for you!

Perhaps you’re looking for greater job satisfaction, more money, better corporate culture, more variety, more flexibility, a leader who inspires you or to have a greater impact. Whatever the reason… you know that it’s going to take time and energy.

SEEK research found that 75% of Australians take up to six months to find and secure a new job (source).

But there are some key things you can do to make your job search easier, faster and help you to land your ideal next role.

And it’s not all about jumping into action.

Not yet. Hold your horses for a moment ladies.

First we need to set the foundations; do the ground work and set you up for success.

Here’s where to start

  1. Clarify what you want. Ok so I hear you saying… that’s my problem Jane, I’m not sure what I want.

There may be lots you don’t yet have clarity on – but let’s start with what you know you do want.

What type of tasks do you want to be doing each day? What key skills do you want to be using? Do you want to be leading a team? Do you want the opportunity to work from home? Do you want travel to be part of the role?

  1. Be clear about what you don’t want. This is equally as important as knowing what you do want.

Perhaps you have become known to be good at a task or role that you really don’t enjoy.

Some years ago, I became known as the expert/go-to-girl in managing the annual self insurance safety audit. I may have been really good at it … but I loathed this task!

I was really good at influencing the key stakeholders throughout the business to be involved, providing the necessary documentation and to prepare them to effectively answer the auditor’s questions.

But I was terrible at all the attention to detail required in the three-month long project. PLEASE poke pins in my eyes before I have to do this type of project again!

How about you? What would you rather not do in your next role?

  1. Understand your strengths. This step is key. Be really really clear about what your key strengths are.

I ask this question of smart, professional women every day… and almost every single time they struggle to answer. And if they do manage to get out a couple of dot points, I’m rarely convinced they believe these are their strengths.

Ladies … you have to get clear and comfortable to SELL who you are and what it is you would bring to your next role.

  1. Know your value. You are so much more than a list of attributes or the jobs you’ve held in the past. Yes, these are part of the story but not the complete picture.

You are unique and have a special value to bring to your next role. What is it?

For example: Susan’s unique gift is that she is a master at uniting a team to deliver way beyond the business expectations. Carissa is a genius in taking a complex idea and bringing it to life in a no nonsense kind of way. Katy is known within her industry to be invaluable in the negotiation phase of multi million dollar IT projects.

You have a unique value to share. It’s time to own it! Make it clear in your CV, LinkedIn profile and during the interview stage that you would be an impressive asset to the right employer.

  1. Decide you’re worthy. Because you are. You know you are capable of so much more and you want to contribute in a bigger, more significant way.

But let me tell you … the most likely thing standing between you and your ideal next role is YOU. I know, harsh but true.

If you don’t believe you’re worthy of the types of roles you really aspire to…. no one else will believe you either. Your lack of self belief will seep through in your job applications, your networking efforts and in your interviews.

Ladies, it’s time to embrace all of who you are and the value you have to offer.

——————

Like some support getting clear on how to go about accessing your next ideal role?  Book a Leadership Support Session here, and together we’ll create a plan for your success!

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Join the newsletter list for weekly tips and strategies showing you how to ignite your career, lead your way and accelerate your success. 
Watch The Next Level Training to breakthrough to the next level of leadership, impact and recognition.  
Get my best tips on working smarter not harder 
Read my latest blog post.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact my team.

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Gorgeous tired young office worker falling asleep at her desk while trying to work in modern office

Why Working Harder Isn’t Always the…

The mistake I see many mid-career professional women making is thinking that the way to be seen, heard, recognised and promoted is… to work harder and do more.

I really don’t know how that would be possible though, because most of the professional women I speak to are already working super hard.

Jane Benston

The Farm Girl Who Cares

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

Jane Benston

Know you need to build better…

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

Jane Benston

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High achievers have these 5 things in common

High achievers have these 5 things in common

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Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have the gift of turning everything they touch into gold? They lead the best teams, they achieve exceptional results and get noticed and promoted more often. And to top it off … they seem have everything sorted in their life outside of work too.

Meanwhile others struggle along, getting frustrated by their failures and going nowhere fast.   

It turns out that high performers think and operate differently.

The good news is that by adopting some of the key characteristics of those high achieving superstars you too can more consistently achieve more of what you want from life and work.

5 Critical Characteristics of high achievers

  1.  They believe it is possible.There is a correlation between what we believe is possible and what our results are. If we think we can’t, we won’t. If we think we can then there is a fair chance we will. It is like our belief becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Believing in your ability to succeed drives action, generates a can do energy and defeats self doubt.  You are more likely to notice opportunities as they arise and go after them with a sense of confidence and certainty.

  1.  They resist the fear of failure. High achievers know that they are likely to encounter failures along the way. They don’t let the fear of failure hold them back from taking action. Just like the rest of us they experience fear. The difference is that they act in spite of it.

Many high profile successful people including Oprah, Arianna Huffington and Brene Brown have spoken about their failures as being learning lessons on their way to success.  They do not fear failure or internalize it; they don’t identify with it or say, “I am a failure.” Instead, they study and analyse their failures, and take what they can to learn from them.

  1.  They consciously create their future. They don’t leave their life or professional success and happiness up to chance. High achievers regularly carve out time throughout the year to get specific about what they want, and then to go about achieving those things.

So, start with the end in mind.  Get specific about what you want from your career and your life.  Visualise it.  Document it.  Talk about it.  Believe that it is on its way.  It’s now just a matter of time.

  1.  They stay focused on the goal. High achievers keep their eye on the prize. They know what they want, they know why they want it, and they go after it.

There is going to come a point in the pursuit of any big goal when you are going to want to quit and walk away.  Perhaps it gets hard, you hit up against a challenge or resistance or you lose motivation. 

You must remain connected to why this endeavour is important to you and focus on what is at stake. This will give you the push you need to keep going when things get tough.

  1.  They reject the comfort zone. High achievers know that progress and growth doesn’t come from within the comfort zone.

Think back across the career achievements you are most proud of.  It’s highly likely that these achievements are characterised by the fact that they were challenging and required you to stretch beyond what you thought you were capable of.

Growth happens outside your comfort zone.  You are capable of so much more than you think.  Be brave and take the step.  Trust that you will be about to handle the challenge.

Next steps…

By focusing on even one of these characteristics can create a massive shift in your results.  Which one will make the biggest  difference for you?

 
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Join “Leading Ladies” – a private FREE Facebook group of over 1600 other mid-career professional women to inspire and support
Join the newsletter list for weekly tips and strategies showing you how to ignite your career, lead your way and accelerate your success. 
Watch The Next Level Training to breakthrough to the next level of leadership, impact and recognition.  
Get my best tips on working smarter not harder 
Read my latest blog post.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact my team.

Similar Blog Posts

Gorgeous tired young office worker falling asleep at her desk while trying to work in modern office

Why Working Harder Isn’t Always the…

The mistake I see many mid-career professional women making is thinking that the way to be seen, heard, recognised and promoted is… to work harder and do more.

I really don’t know how that would be possible though, because most of the professional women I speak to are already working super hard.

Jane Benston

The Farm Girl Who Cares

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

Jane Benston

Know you need to build better…

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

Jane Benston

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Rock Your Career Post Lockdown

Rock Your Career Post Lockdown

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Over recent weeks I’ve been reflecting on how much the professional landscape has changed since March 2020.  The way we work, where we work and what we work on, has in many ways changed forever.

And right now, we are transitioning to yet another new phase of uncertainty and change as we move towards opening up and “living with COVID.” 

We don’t yet know what the new normal will look like – but we can be sure that most organisations will not slip back into operating as they did pre-pandemic.  

Many businesses are in the middle of developing new plans and strategies for the coming years and are reviewing whether they have the right people to implement their vision and are in search of the best talent to bolster a depleted workforce.  

The “Great Resignation” that is currently sweeping around the globe is also creating mass movement of talent.  People at every level are reassessing their work and life choices and making decisions about what matters most to them.  

The flow on effect is that top talent is in high demand and is opening up some incredible opportunities.

You may be exhausted from the very long lockdowns and restrictions.  You may be thinking you’ll just limp through to Christmas and take some time early next year to consider what’s next for you…

But if you can find the strength, I encourage you to be curious about the opportunities that are all around you RIGHT NOW.

Over the past 2 or 3 weeks my diary has been filled with appointments, supporting mid-career women who are taking advantage of the job opportunities available.  Some of these women weren’t even looking for a new role – but have been approached to consider exciting projects that were too good to pass up.  

And not only are they securing these exciting roles – they are also negotiating significant pay rises, attractive benefits including flexibility and continued working from home and have had a say in the creation of the job specifics.  

Are you ready to take advantage of this unique moment in history – where you as a talented professional, are in the box seat?

You have the power because they want and need you – even more than you want and need the role they are offering. 

Here’s what to do right now to take advantage of current job opportunities

1. Know what you want. 

Start by getting clear on what your ideal next role might look like.  It’s OK to dream a little about the type of work you’d like to be doing based on what you love to do and your unique talents, skills and experience.  Importantly, think about the value you’d most like to contribute to a business.  

With this clarity, if you are approached about a potential role, you’ll be ready to assess it based on what you really want. 

2. Spread the word

This is not a time to fly under the radar.  You’ve been hidden away at home for long enough!  It’s time to reconnect with your professional network.  Pick up the phone or arrange time to meet for coffee – even if it’s in a park for now.   

If you’ve been too busy or have lost your professional mojo of late, how about putting some time aside in the coming weeks to re-establishing some of your key relationships.  

The best opportunities are being filled via word of mouth so make sure you’re not shy about sharing what types of roles you’d like to be considered for. 

3. Believe

In the current climate, hiring managers are looking for talent with room for growth.  What this means for you is that there is a chance you may be approached for a role that you would have previously thought was out of your league.  

It’s time to believe in you.  You are ready!  Say yes and then surround yourself with a support team to assist you to grow into the role.  

If they believe in you … so should you!  

Good luck.  You’ve got this. This is your time. 

 
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Join “Leading Ladies” – a private FREE Facebook group of over 1600 other mid-career professional women to inspire and support
Join the newsletter list for weekly tips and strategies showing you how to ignite your career, lead your way and accelerate your success. 
Watch The Next Level Training to breakthrough to the next level of leadership, impact and recognition.  
Get my best tips on working smarter not harder 
Read my latest blog post.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact my team.

Similar Blog Posts

Gorgeous tired young office worker falling asleep at her desk while trying to work in modern office

Why Working Harder Isn’t Always the…

The mistake I see many mid-career professional women making is thinking that the way to be seen, heard, recognised and promoted is… to work harder and do more.

I really don’t know how that would be possible though, because most of the professional women I speak to are already working super hard.

Jane Benston

The Farm Girl Who Cares

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

Jane Benston

Know you need to build better…

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

Jane Benston

Posted on

What are you waiting for?

What are you waiting for?

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Every day I speak to women who are waiting.

They are waiting to feel smart enough, good enough, old enough or for someone to notice their talent or how hard they are working.  

It shouldn’t surprise me… because I remember a time when I was waiting to feel ready for the next step in my career.  I had no idea why I was waiting or what being ready would look like or feel like… but I was waiting.

Career progress is only achieved when we stop waiting and become proactive in our development.

If you are waiting to step up to the next level of leadership, impact and recognition… it’s time to stop waiting.  

Here are the 7 top reasons I hear from women about why they are waiting.

  1.  Waiting to feel worthy or good enough.   If this is you – it’s likely you see yourself with less potential or skill than others do!  Imposter Syndrome is often part of the story where you allow your inner critic to influence your confidence and self-belief. 

One talented leader I worked with was waiting to “feel” like a leader before speaking up in a leadership team meeting.  Another was waiting to feel more confident before agreeing to present her ideas to the board – even though she was passionate and expert in her field. 

  1.  Waiting to be old enough. Do you have a belief that you need to be of a certain age to be considered for a particular level of leadership or to be taken seriously? 

I have worked with high achieving young women who have rocketed into positions of influence at a young age but then feel they have to wait for their age to catch up, to take the next step.  

  1.  Waiting to be ready.  Ready for what?  Who knows?  But still you wait! Perhaps this is linked to feeling good enough or worthy enough.  It is certainly linked to the fear of failure and the need to protect yourself from risk.  

And sometimes it’s got nothing at all to do with professional capabilities.  One woman told me she was waiting to lose weight and buy a new corporate wardrobe before she started looking for a new job.

  1.  Waiting to be knowledgeable enough.  Do you think you need more knowledge, skill or training to be able to take the next step?  Perhaps you do!  But it’s highly likely you don’t.  

If you don’t believe me… seek advice from someone who knows you well and understands the requirements of the types of opportunities you want to be considered for.  My guess is that the quickest and most effective way to get the knowledge and experience you think you need, is by saying YES and taking the next step.   

  1.  Waiting until it is your turn.  Getting promoted because you have done your time went out of vogue years ago!  Career progression is now all about taking opportunities and going after what you want.  You will be given opportunities based on the value you can offer and being the best fit for the role not because of your years of tenure within the organisation.
  2.  Waiting until you are tapped on the shoulder. This strategy may have worked well for you in your early career – but at this level of leadership, hard work and results isn’t enough to get you noticed.  I know it should be but it’s not! 

Progressing your career is up to you.  It is about raising your profile, creating opportunities and taking steps to make it clear that you are the obvious choice for promotion or consideration for inclusion on an exciting project.

  1.  Waiting until your circumstances change.  Most of us have a lot going on outside of work which at times can impact what we are capable of or prepared to take on at work. Kids, holidays, moving home, weddings, illness, COVID!  These are all good reasons to take a step back but are you using your circumstances as an elegant excuse?

Stop waiting and take action!

If you recognise yourself in any of these, perhaps it is time to take your foot off the brake, lift your finger off the pause button and get into action.  

You are already good enough and experienced enough and you already know enough. If you are waiting for someone to notice your brilliance and hand you your perfect job, you could be waiting a very long time!

Your professional fulfilment and growth is up to you.  Go out and grab it with both hands… NOW!

And know … you are already enough!

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LET'S CONNECT

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Focus On Leadership

Click below to…

Join “Leading Ladies” – a private FREE Facebook group of over 1600 other mid-career professional women to inspire and support
Join the newsletter list for weekly tips and strategies showing you how to ignite your career, lead your way and accelerate your success. 
Watch The Next Level Training to breakthrough to the next level of leadership, impact and recognition.  
Get my best tips on working smarter not harder 
Read my latest blog post.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact my team.

Similar Blog Posts

Gorgeous tired young office worker falling asleep at her desk while trying to work in modern office

Why Working Harder Isn’t Always the…

The mistake I see many mid-career professional women making is thinking that the way to be seen, heard, recognised and promoted is… to work harder and do more.

I really don’t know how that would be possible though, because most of the professional women I speak to are already working super hard.

Jane Benston

The Farm Girl Who Cares

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

Jane Benston

Know you need to build better…

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

Jane Benston

Posted on

Navigating the ‘messy middle’ of your professional growth: a helpful hack

Navigating the ‘messy middle’ of your professional growth: a helpful hack

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Growth is never easy, 

One of the most challenging parts of up-levelling in our careers is navigating our way through, what I call, the ‘messy middle’. 

The ‘messy middle’ is the often uncomfortable part of our growth – that sits between our old habits, behaviours, strategies and ways of thinking, and the ones our Future Self needs us to step into, to progress and move forward. 

What I see happen, time and time again in my work with mid-career professional women, is this …

The women who persevere and commit to staying the course through the messy middle (no matter how hard it gets) are the ones who successfully make the transition into the next phase of their careers.

They are the ones who are stepping up to the next level of leadership, being offered promotions and getting seen as the ones to watch, in their organisations.

The fact of the matter is, that change and professional growth never come if we allow ourselves to be paralysed by our fear and discomfort.

Professional growth requires us to act with courage.  

There is no shortcut or bypassing the discomfort.  It’s part of the process that we must embrace in order to get to the other side. 

Let me share some of my most successful tried-and-tested strategies with you  for transitioning through the “messy middle.”

  1. Call in support

One thing the ladies in my Ignite and Leadership Connection programs tell me time and time again, is that they would not be where they are in their careers, or had the skills and confidence to navigate the ‘messy middle’, if they hadn’t had the support to keep them moving forward. 

Stepping into the next level of leadership is uncharted territory, and it takes guidance, support and accountability (especially from someone who has been where you are!) to make the journey feel easier and less overwhelming.

  1. Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable

Many women are under the impression that if something feels really uncomfortable, it’s because they’ve made a ‘wrong’ decision. 

But this isn’t always the case. In fact, I’d dare to say that everyone who is aspiring for growth in their career will feel some level of discomfort no matter how many years of experience they have tucked under their belt.

New things take practice and up-levelling in your career requires you to ‘re-wire’ and learn new skills, habits and behaviours – and this will often stretch you outside what feels familiar or comfortable. 

Discomfort is completely normal!

  1. See the ‘messy middle’ as a good thing

While it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the ‘messy middle’, another way to look at it is through a more positive lens. After all, being in the ‘messy middle’ ultimately means that you’re moving forward and making progress!

This chapter is absolutely worth celebrating because it means you’re actively getting one step closer, each day, to where you want to be.

There is much gold to glean in this period of great change and growth.

The career you aspire for yourself really is just one decision away, on the other side of messiness. 

You get to decide whether or not you say ‘yes!’ – you truly do hold all the power in your hands. 

We have many mid career professional women, who have successfully navigated their ‘messy middle’, over in our free Facebook Group.  Join in the conversation and ask for advice, here.

 

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LET'S CONNECT

Facebook Linkedin
Focus On Leadership

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Join “Leading Ladies” – a private FREE Facebook group of over 1600 other mid-career professional women to inspire and support
Join the newsletter list for weekly tips and strategies showing you how to ignite your career, lead your way and accelerate your success. 
Watch The Next Level Training to breakthrough to the next level of leadership, impact and recognition.  
Get my best tips on working smarter not harder 
Read my latest blog post.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact my team.

Similar Blog Posts

Gorgeous tired young office worker falling asleep at her desk while trying to work in modern office

Why Working Harder Isn’t Always the…

The mistake I see many mid-career professional women making is thinking that the way to be seen, heard, recognised and promoted is… to work harder and do more.

I really don’t know how that would be possible though, because most of the professional women I speak to are already working super hard.

Jane Benston

The Farm Girl Who Cares

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

Jane Benston

Know you need to build better…

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

Jane Benston

Posted on

The fight for top talent. How to make the most of the HOT job market

The fight for top talent. How to make the most of the HOT job market.

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Have you noticed that right now the job market is HOT!  Many organisations are falling over themselves to keep their best people or poach top talent from elsewhere.   

The reason for this is twofold.

Firstly, with international borders closed and likely to remain closed for some time yet, organisations are unable to rely on employing talent from around the globe, leaving a shortage of skilled professionals.

Secondly, the shakeup created by COVID has left many people reassessing their priorities and professional future.  With high levels of burn out and increased opportunities for working from anywhere – many are choosing to take time out of the workforce or moving on to work for themselves.  

What does this mean?

High quality talent is in demand. This puts you in the box seat to secure a promotion with your current employer or a new role in a different organisation – with a pay rise and the flexibility you could only dream about 2 years ago.  

But there are a few things you need to be doing now to make the most of this very unique time in history to put yourself in a powerful position. 

How to position for the best opportunities.

1. Know what you want.  If you don’t know what you want… it’s difficult to position yourself for it.  Lack of clarity leads to confusion and keeps you stuck where you are for way longer than is good for your career. 

2. Be valuable.  Being useful, helpful and reliable is nice but being valuable is what will make you highly sought after.  To tap into the best opportunities, you must be able to clearly articulate the value you offer your current or future employer?  

But being able to articulate your value is not enough.  It’s then about ensuring that you are working towards solving the big issues, delivering the results most needed or contributing in ways that have you being recognised for your leadership?  Be intentional and focus your time and energy on those activities that showcase the value you deliver for the business. 

3. Raise your profile.  No more flying under the radar, hoping that your good work will speak for itself.  I know that it should, but it won’t! It’s time to speak about the work you’re doing, the results you and your team are achieving and how you are contributing to the organisations most important goals.  Being a well-kept secret will not give you access to the best opportunities. 

4. Pimp your LinkedIn.  A well thought out LinkedIn profile is a must for all professionals.  You can no longer hide behind the excuse of “I’m a private person” or “It’s a waste of time.”  LinkedIn is a professional tool that all we should be embracing.  It is increasingly being used by recruiters and organisations to find top talent.  You are limiting your opportunities if you are not leveraging LinkedIn! 

5. Be intentional and stay focused. It is time to get strategic and focused on what you want. Yes… it may even be time to create a plan.  Get clear on what actions you will take and what changes you will implement to put yourself in a great position to take advantage of the best opportunities that are out there. 

Now is not the time to be complacent about your professional development. This window of opportunity will be brief.  The job market will not remain hot for long.  So, although you may be feeling tired, frustrated and bored or even struggling with mental fatigue as a result of the ongoing lockdowns and long periods of working from home, if you are ready to take the next step in your career – now is the time to act.  

Get clarity.  Get visible. Get out there.  And get ready to seize onto this unique moment in time. 

Like some help to make the most of the HOT job market?  Click here, answer a few questions and book a Leadership Support Session with me.

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LET'S CONNECT

Facebook Linkedin
Focus On Leadership

Click below to…

Join “Leading Ladies” – a private FREE Facebook group of over 1600 other mid-career professional women to inspire and support
Join the newsletter list for weekly tips and strategies showing you how to ignite your career, lead your way and accelerate your success. 
Watch The Next Level Training to breakthrough to the next level of leadership, impact and recognition.  
Get my best tips on working smarter not harder 
Read my latest blog post.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact my team.

Similar Blog Posts

Gorgeous tired young office worker falling asleep at her desk while trying to work in modern office

Why Working Harder Isn’t Always the…

The mistake I see many mid-career professional women making is thinking that the way to be seen, heard, recognised and promoted is… to work harder and do more.

I really don’t know how that would be possible though, because most of the professional women I speak to are already working super hard.

Jane Benston

The Farm Girl Who Cares

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

Jane Benston

Know you need to build better…

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

Jane Benston

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Working hard isn’t the answer but this is.

Working hard isn’t the answer but this is.

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Have you ever thought … if I work hard, I will get noticed and soon I will be promoted and get the pay rise I deserve?

Unfortunately career and leadership success and getting the recognition you deserve doesn’t only come through hard work. Yes it is part of the equation but there is more to it than that.

Sometimes it seems a mystery and definitely a source of frustration and resentment when others are promoted ahead of you.

Securing the position you want and getting paid what you are worth, is a worthy goal common to most. It is healthy to want to expand, develop, and advance both personally and professionally but what is the secrete formula for getting ahead?

There sometimes appears to be an unspoken set of rules that only a privileged few in the game are privy to. When you don’t know the secrete formula, you may even be sabotaging your career advancement without even realising it!

So you are smart and ambitious and you’re ready for the next challenge.

Here are some simple strategies to follow to get your career on the move.

1. Create a plan. Finding your way to the top starts with creating a successful plan. Start with the end in mind. Where do you want to be 3 – 5 years from now? It is only once you are clear on this that you can start mapping out the steps to get there. And without it … you will end up meandering along, allowing others to drive your next move. Now is the time to plant yourself firmly in the drivers seat.

Ensure your plan includes ongoing learning. Leaders who have fast tracked their career progression, take responsibility for their development of technical skills, leadership capabilities and personal growth.

2. Get to know your company and your boss. Understand your company’s vision, values and your boss’s priorities and focus your efforts with their goals and objectives. Focus on helping your team and your boss to achieve the business targets and in doing so you will demonstrate your value.

Align yourself with the people and projects receiving the highest levels of attention. This gives you visibility and the chance to shine more quickly.

3. Networking is Key.Build your network both within your organisation and externally. The more people who know you, like you and understand the value you bring, the better.

4. Focus on impact not just output. Be strategic about the projects you say “yes” to. Focus on delivering quality work that makes an impact on the business bottom line, customer service, efficiency, delivery standards etc.

Acknowledge that you will do you best work when you are working on projects that allow you to utilize your natural talents. Focusing your energy on activities that are a great fit for you will lead to greater happiness and productivity and producing your best work.

Become known for your innovation not just your ability to get a job done. It has been said that 90% of employees are executors, but it is the other 10% who initiate and do things that they are not asked to do, who move up the ladder the quickest.

5. Have the right conversations. Ask your boss and key people within your organisation “What does success in this role look like?” “ What can I be doing to operate at the next level? Be clear with them about your career aspirations and be open to advice on areas of personal and professional development.

6. Stand out! There is no place for being beige or blending into the background if you want to be taken seriously as someone who is ready for greater responsibility. Recognise that you may have been conditioned throughout your life to fly under the radar and take the safest path. It may have worked for you up until now but it is not going to be a winning strategy as your climb the corporate ladder.

Now is the time to stand out. Find your voice, speak up and have an opinion. Be brave and have courage to step up to take on projects and responsibilities that may be slightly outside your comfort zone.

7. Attitude.  Your attitude can make or break your advancement and the opportunities that come your way! It is the single most important element to a sustainable successful career.  It is more than just being positive. It is having an attitude that is respectful and inclusive of others. It is believing that everyone can add value if given direction, encouragement and trust. It is creating an environment were excellence is expected and the team thrive in working together to achieve extraordinary results.

Your engaging attitude will be the thing that stands you apart from the pack. It will have you noticed by senior leaders and your team wanting to follow you wherever you go!

Now is the time to get your career and your leadership development off autopilot.  Create a plan, take action and you might be surprised at how quickly you climb the career ladder!

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