How to Increase Your Chances of Career Progression

No matter who you are, or where you work, wanting recognition for your efforts and contribution plays a big part in your sense of corporate wellness, as well as your personal wellbeing. Why do some people stay put in the same position, whilst others fly up the career ladder almost as soon as they’re first employed? Here and there, it may be because of the right opportunity at the right time, but more often than not the way you work determines how your career progresses.

In order to move up the path of success, you have to work hard, but, more importantly, work smart. Firstly, ask yourself where you want to be in the next two years, five years, 10 years, 20 years, and so on. Setting your career goals allows you to work backwards and plan your strategy. What do you have to do in order to get from where you are now to where you want to be in the future, and how are you going to equip yourself to reach it?

Next, take a closer look at your workload. Can you find a less complicated way of getting things done? Work procedures can help to get you started at a new job, but if there’s a better way of doing things that saves you and the company time and effort, then surely everyone wins. Understand your work and you’ll be able to find the most efficient and effective way to produce results, without compromising on quality. This way, you will have more time to perform other tasks and be more productive.

One way you can do this is by organising your tasks by category. Group them together so that they may be carried out in the same place or capacity, thus enabling you to save time and resources. If you set a time that you answer all your emails, for example, as opposed to answering each one as it comes, you can prevent yourself from getting distracted by the emails throughout the day and utilise your time better to carry out more jobs.

Finally, invest your time in activities that are of greater significance, focussing in particular on things you are good at. What work will help you develop higher or more advanced skills and how can you get involved in those opportunities? If you’ve already shown you’re more than capable of your current workload, your boss will see you can handle jobs that are of greater significance. However, don’t try to get your hands on every little task but, instead focus on tasks that you are better at so that you can produce the best results. This way, you will stand out and gain recognition for your effort and be moving up the career ladder swiftly and smoothly in no time.