5 Tips for Career Success

Sue Clarke's Top Tips for nurturing your career:

1. See yourself as others see you.
It's easy to forget when we go about the daily grind at work that everything we do speaks volumes about us.

Just for a minute, imagine that a secret camera is following you around, watching your every move and listening in to your conversations. Imagine too that the footage is going to end up on the MD's desk. When it does, would what he or she sees and hears make you cringe in the slightest? Do you need to lift your game?

If so, what do you need to do, or stop doing, right now? Make a new commitment: 'I'm great on camera!'

2. Make a positive difference.
Look for ways that you can make a difference and contribute to the success of your company.

How can you help your company make money, save costs, make procedures smoother, raise customer satisfaction, make your team stronger…?

How can you share your ideas and your knowledge to the benefit of your company?
Get involved. Seek out new challenges. As the American poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, 'The world belongs to the energetic'. And remember The Pareto Principle: no matter what you do, 80% of the rewards result from just 20% of the activities - so act strategically and make sure your fifth shines the spotlight on your strengths and positive attributes.

3. Use Performance Reviews properly.
Most companies offer annual, or more regular, performance appraisals that give you an opportunity to discuss your performance with your boss. They focus on what you do well; what you could improve. Most review systems then follow this with a formal performance rating. If this happens with you, make sure you know what you need to do in order to achieve the next level of rating.

Ask your boss to be specific. For example, ask: 'What exactly do I need to be doing differently in order to get to the next performance level, and how will you measure me?' Make it clear to your boss that you want to have detailed advice. Don't accept a woolly answer.

Be sure you know exactly what things are going to be rewarded. Your goal is to leave the room with a clear understanding of what it is you need to do, how you need to change, and how you will be measured. Then focus on this accordingly - go do what you have to do.

Be the best! (Oh, and if your company doesn't do reviews, have the conversation with your boss anyway.)

4. Think beyond your immediate sphere of influence.
You may be liked and respected by your boss and your team, but is that enough? Who else is aware of your existence and what you can do? No matter how supportive your boss and team are, they might not like to spread the word about you too positively in case someone else sees you and wants you. It's human nature - we don't like to let go of a good thing, no matter how unconsciously we do it. So get your light out from under that bushel!

How can you raise your profile and be more visible, communicating what you do and what you are capable of doing to significant others in the company?

Consider volunteering to represent your area in a company initiative (and take a positive, active role), or giving a presentation on your team's work and how it contributes to the company (and ask for suggestions on how it could contribute more), for instance.

Develop a wide network of contacts
Your career will be influenced by your relationships with others just as much as your competence on the job. Make sure you take every opportunity to keep getting to know people and what they do. Think about how they could help you, and even more important, how you can help then.

Get a mentor
Approach someone more senior in your organisation, not in your direct management tier, who you respect. Ask them if they will mentor you.

5. Invest in yourself.
Gone are the days (if they ever really existed) when you could expect your company to take responsibility for your development. You are responsible for yourself and your career: your success and your future are in your own hands.

Source training courses and workshops that will develop you or fill gaps in your skills and knowledge. If your employer is not able or willing to fund you, pay for yourself. As well as taking control of your own development, you'll make sure you attend events that you really do need. Go bespoke and get a career coach. As well as skilled performance coaching, you'll have a creative sounding board for your ideas and a totally objective viewpoint.

Build your confidence, overcome obstacles, develop your working relationships…Get help exactly where you need it, when you need it. Focus on what you need to focus on; tackle what you need to tackle. It's safe, it's fast - and it's fun!