Blog: Breathe fresh life into your career
Breathe fresh life into your career development plans with these five tips
For a decade, we’ve been hearing about the strides we’ve made in equality and inclusion in the workplace. However, in the past two years, that collective progress has been quickly undone. The most recent Women in the Workplace report for 2022 by Lean In and McKinsey & Company was not encouraging: women are still dramatically underrepresented in leadership, and the broken rung is still holding them back.
What’s more, the report notes that, despite being just as ambitious, women continue to face strong headwinds to advancement, a fact that is driving women leaders to leave their companies at the highest rate in years. As highlighted in a sobering Chief.com article, research shows that gender parity has never been so out of reach.
Younger women in particular are more likely to switch jobs based on factors like flexibility, an organization’s commitment to employee wellbeing, and, once again, advancement opportunities. This general departure has been called the Great Divorce, or – as one member of The WIT Network coined it – the Great Reinvention.
This collective movement is an opportunity to effect change – in our own careers, organizations, and across society. After all, as we call on organizations to improve their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the responsibility to advance our professional competency so we are ready for the opportunities we seek is ours alone.
Whether your goals include preparing for a switch or forging up the ladder in your current organization, it’s essential to be proactive about your career development so you are prepared to take advantage of the momentum here.
In this post, we want to share five tips for taking ownership of your career development, paired with suggested resources to help you get started.
Five ways to take ownership of your career development
1. Set goals
The first step towards owning your career development is to set achievable goals. A career without goals is like a journey without a map – you’re more prone to wander and get distracted.
Your goals should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound). For example: Become an expert in [a pivotal new technology] within three months and build visibility for myself as a thought leader and drive change within my organization by proactively advocating for and educating colleagues in this new technology.
Setting SMART goals helps you to stay focused and motivated. Start by defining your long-term career goals and then break them down into smaller, more manageable goals – What do you need to accomplish in the next six months? 90 days? 30 days? What do you need to accomplish today?
Once you've set your goals, create a plan to achieve them.
Read this: How To Set Career Goals And Achieve Them (forbes.com)
Do this: Set aside a block of time to flesh out your long-term career goals. Go big. Then use the four steps in the Forbes article above to draft out a plan. Take the first step.
2. Seek feedback
Feedback is essential in any career. Seeking feedback from your boss, colleagues, and mentors can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. If you aren’t regularly receiving the feedback you need to help direct your growth, be proactive – ask for it. When you do, be specific. Ask about a particular aspect of your work, how you handled a certain situation, or a recent deliverable.
Then, listen without judgement.
Whether your workplace has a healthy feedback system or you need to seek it out, train yourself to process and apply learnings toward growth. Remember, you control what you do with the information received – take what is constructive and set aside what is not.
Watch this: The Joy of Getting Feedback | Joe Hirsch | TEDxTarrytown
Do this: Identify three aspects of your work you would like feedback on and the person(s) best suited to assess your performance. Prepare specific questions and assume a posture of receptivity. Then, seek. Reflect afterward on how it went and what you could tweak next time for an even better outcome.
3. Network smarter
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. The old adage is as true today as ever, evidenced by the significance we continue to place on modern-day networking.
Forbes reported that a silent career setback women face in their thirties is their unintentional drop off in networking. Well, you might say, I’m well beyond my thirties. The article goes on to say that the impact of that networking drop off isn’t immediately apparent because the rewards come unexpectedly or over a longer timeframe. The good news is, now is always the right time to start.
Networking is critical in any career development journey. But for women, it’s about more than just learning about job opportunities, industry trends, and gaining access to valuable resources. It’s about creating visibility for the impact you are providing to the business, your community, or projects you are working on. Your network should include a collection of people who are going to help hold space for and help amplify your voice and contributions.
With women significantly more likely to be single heads of household or caregivers (of children, aging parents, or both), time is often the biggest issue. Networking smarter is key.
One way is to go into every networking meeting with a specific outcome in mind – an introduction, a piece of feedback, a follow-up meeting.
Another idea put forth in the Forbes article is to use the ‘plus-one’ model, where you intentionally involve other women in meetings, events, projects, and so forth.
As you see industry events, join professional organizations, and engage in online networking. When you attend, prepare. Bring your authentic self. Engage deeply.
Depending on your goals and personality, decide whether you want to establish fewer, deeper connections, or cast a wide net and shake hands with the entire room. Your goals, your approach.
Read this: Why Women Need To Network (forbes.com)
Do this: Attend the next WIT Network monthly Mentoring Circles. Or join a WIT Network community event to connect with like-minded individuals in your area – if none are scheduled for you area, why not start one?
4. Invest in skilling
Investing in your professional development is critical for career growth. Continuously learning new skills and staying up-to-date with industry trends can help you stay relevant and competitive.
Skilling is not one-size-fits-all – your stage and goals will guide what kind of skilling is most important. The good thing is, there are more opportunities than ever to find a good fit. In addition to traditional in-person workshops, conferences, and training sessions, we also have the advantage of the many flexible, digital, and on-demand learning options like LinkedIn Learning and upskilling programs offered by many ‘tech giants’.
Or, you may choose to look into skilling opportunities offered through organizations committed to furthering diversity in tech. including the WIT Network webinars and workshops.
Reflect on your natural strengths, improvement areas, and interests – tailor your investment in skilling to where you want to be in the future.
Explore this: Microsoft launches next stage of skills initiative after helping 30 million people
Do this: Identify one area you want to upskill in – whether for your current role or one you aspire to. Find a program that fits and make a plan for how you will develop this skill within the next 3 months.
5. Take strategic risks
There are measurable career implications in a world where women are less likely to take credit for their accomplishments, seek a raise, or take lead in a presentation.
Reward follows risk, and a key element of risk is holding your space and going after what you want. This is where having mentors can be very helpful. Mentors can help you identify strategic risks, seek out new challenges, take on new projects, and ask for stretch assignments.
Remember, failure is not a setback, but an opportunity to learn and grow. Mentors help you tease out the difference and maximize the learning points while providing direction and encouragement.
If you don’t have a mentor, becoming more active in The WIT Network will provide opportunities to find one.
Read this: Why It’s Important To Take Risks To Further Your Career (forbes.com)
Do this: First, looking at the goals you identified earlier, what is a risk you have been hesitant to take. Reflect on what would happen if you took the risk. How could you succeed? How could you learn or grow? Second, talk about this risk with your mentor; or, if you don’t have a mentor, join a WIT Network event with the goal of identifying women who could help you grow. Make a connection.
As the state of the workplace continues to evolve for women, now is the time to refresh your goals and plan for career trajectory. We hope the five ideas and action items above have inspired you to take a step today!
By setting goals, seeking feedback, networking, skilling, and taking strategic risks, you can breathe fresh life into your career and effect progress toward your professional goals and help further a brighter future for women in the workplace.
A note from The WIT Network leadership:
Remember, The WIT Network is here to walk this path with you. If you need support envisioning your professional development goals, creating a plan, or seeing it through, we offer webinars, workshops, mentorship, and – most importantly – community.
