Advancing your career requires you to step outside of your comfort zone and take risks
By Tuesday Consulting
When talking about careers, ‘climbing the corporate ladder’ comes to mind. But this is fundamentally flawed, as a career path is often not linear, says Wendy Spalding, director at executive search firm Tuesday Consulting. There is value in every experience that you can take forward.
The biggest growth and development happens in childhood, a phase of our lives where curiosity overrides fear, she points out. When we try new things, we unlock a new way of thinking and see the world in new ways. This is lost in our later years, but as professionals, we need to become comfortable with discomfort.
Planning a sustainable career path is vital, however it is important to remember that it is a journey and not a destination. The greatest career advancements stem from either staying relevant or taking risks.
Top performing candidates have one thing in common: they are committed to staying relevant, and they do this through ongoing learning and upskilling, whether it be a certificate, a diploma or an executive short course, says Spalding.
These candidates also constantly position themselves for getting to the next level and make the most of where they are, even if they aren’t yet where they want to be. They put effort into building networks and relationships, as these add value when changing careers or exploring whatever is next.
Spalding says that she also advises candidates to spend time working in professions different to their own. This may sound risky, but gaining diverse enterprise experience is valuable if you want to contribute to a broader strategy. For example, a human resources practitioner should gain experience in marketing, finance or sales to fully understand who and what are needed to meet business objectives.
But sometimes, the change you need to grow only happens in a new environment. Spalding encourages gaining new experiences, both personally and professionally, through an international secondment if the company has offices in other regions.
She also adds that major career breakthroughs can happen once you have served on a board. Start looking for opportunities early on in your career to serve on the boards or board sub-committees of NPOs, and ask your company if opportunities exist for alternate board members or junior boards.
Finally, embrace identifying as a tech worker regardless of your job title. Be proactive in learning new technologies to improve and your productivity. Not all jobs will be taken by ‘robots’, but soon corporates will start to hire candidates who can effectively use tools like AI over those who can’t.
While individual effort and skills development are crucial, professionals feeling stuck at a career crossroad should turn to mentorship. Mentorship is a powerful catalyst for career advancement, and there’s great value in having a confidante or a safe space where you can learn from someone else and work on your own growth and development.
Wendy Spalding has spent the past two decades helping CHROs and CEOs find the right leaders and talent for their organisations. “True leaders are identified under the most challenging circumstances, so step outside of your comfort zone and take risks if you want to grow as a professional,” she says.
