Let’s face it. The reality for many of us is that we started our career journey at the age of 21 or 22 without much thought to the strategy we would use. We had a vague idea of where we ultimately wanted to arrive in our career (maybe), but our whole plan was to get some experience for 5 or 10 years and then think about how to arrive at our perfect position.
Part of the problem is that when we start out, our goals seem so far off that it’s hard to connect them with our current job. So we work hard where we’re at and put off planning our future career moves.
I am not suggesting you ignore where you are today in your career journey, but I am telling you that the more you are able to develop your strategy today, the better prepared you will be for the job you’ve been dreaming about.
Here are the top 5 reasons you need to refine your career strategy today.
1. A clear strategy will help you connect where you are today with where you want to be.
Knowing how what you’re doing today is preparing you for a specific position in the future helps you to build and develop the skills that will benefit you most. Your job at this moment will also be more fulfilling when you understand how it directly affects the perfect position you’ll have some day.
2. A clear strategy will sharpen your focus.
Understanding the impact that what you’re doing now will have on your future dream job will help you focus more on what’s important and stop wasting time on less productive things. Without that clarity, the urgent will often crowd out the essential, and you will miss crucial opportunities to develop yourself for the future.
3. A clear strategy will help you break down your goals into practical steps.
When you have a good idea of what needs to happen to propel you into that job you really want, you will be more efficient and less overwhelmed. Being unclear about the steps you need to take leads to a feeling that maybe your goals are impossible or so far off you might as well give up. It is amazing how much simpler everything seems once you define your strategy!
4. A clear strategy will eliminate the negative spiral.
One of the biggest barriers to your career success is discouragement! There are always difficult seasons in your career and times that you will doubt yourself. Disappointment from not getting a position or promotion you want can send you into a negative spiral that stops you in your tracks. If you already have your strategy planned out, you can handle those challenging times better, because you can clearly see that your ultimate plan is still in place.
5. A clear strategy will increase your motivation.
If you feel like you’re not accomplishing anything that will lead you to where you want to be, you won’t be satisfied with your present job, and you’ll be anxious about the job you really want. But, when you see the value in the skills you’re developing today and how they’ll benefit you in reaching that perfect position, you will be energized and motivated to keep moving toward your goals.
Do you have a clearly defined strategy? If you’re unsure, or if you need some help determining your next practical steps, contact me today to discuss your concerns. I’d love to hear from you and help you refine your strategy so that your career goals are a success!
If you want some more simple ways to make your career goals a reality, check out my 3 Simple Ways to Reach Your Career Goals Faster.