Spring is a time of renewal, new beginnings, new opportunities, and a fresh start.
Why can’t that apply to your career as much as it does plants, flowers, and trees?
If you’re looking to make a change or prepare yourself for a new opportunity in the not-too-distant future, here are some skills to improve or obtain to help achieve your new goals.
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Accountability.
Whether you want to view this as taking responsibility for your actions or stepping up and leading the charge on a new project from concept to completion, accountability means knowing when to raise your hand and be the face of a situation. There comes a time when people have to become comfortable accepting criticism as much as praising their work. The willingness to do this and say, “this is on me,” can make the difference between getting a promotion or new job and staying exactly where you are.
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Communication skills.
Talking to people is easy. But can you clearly and concisely communicate an idea or give direction by speaking to people, or in an email, or through social media? The ability to share ideas and help others simply understand complicated things is of the utmost importance. If you need to lead meetings or update clients or customers via video calls, are you comfortable doing that and skilled at keeping people engaged and paying attention? Technology is a critical communications tool, whether utilizing social media to tout your company’s successes or using it to keep in touch with partners when meeting in person isn’t an option.
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Adaptability.
If there’s anything we’ve learned in the past year, it’s that nothing is inevitable, and people need to be able to change course with little to no warning. Are you willing and able to shift direction when needed? Can you reprioritize your to-do list when a new deadline or urgent project comes up? There’s great strength in taking a moment, reassessing the landscape, and tossing the original concept out the window. The key is to focus on the goal and make new decisions and choices based on the changing horizon. Adaptability and flexibility, without anger, pushback, or frustration toward those trying to adjust, are significant indicators of strength, creativity, and leadership.
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Show some initiative and innovation.
This goes hand-in-hand with being adaptable. Can you creatively and quickly solve problems as they arise? Are you comfortable and confident in your ability to roll with the punches, so to speak? Quick thinkers can listen to a problem, ask a few key questions, and then set about finding new solutions and starting to implement them. When the opportunity comes to take the lead on a new project and try something new that might improve efficiency or cost savings, that self-confidence in your abilities can really help you stand out.
Mastering these skills, or working hard to improve them, can help advance your career and make you a stand-out candidate as you move forward. If you’re not looking to leave your current employer but might like a promotion down the line, these skills can help build your case and show that you deserve more responsibility — and a bigger paycheck.
At Debbie’s Staffing, we work with some of the top companies in the nation and know when they’re looking for someone with your skills, expertise, and talents. If you’re ready to change jobs and need a little help finding your next opportunity, contact Debbie’s Staffing today.
