Too often I see strong, professional women who have the skills to grow into leaders getting stuck in their career. They stop growing, and it is usually because they don’t have a career development plan in place.

So, today I am going to teach you today how to create your future career plan. The best part about this plan is that you will be less stressed because you will have direction in your career and know where you are headed in the future.

 

Don’t wait for your boss to help you grow your career as a leader. YOU are the #1 person in charge of your career success.

So many of you are waiting for your boss or your company to help you make that leadership jump or help you develop as a leader. If you wait for them to do it for you, you will be waiting for a long, long time. Here is what you should be doing, instead of waiting.

How to Create a Career Development Action Plan

Record Your Achievements

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not thinking of all the great things you have done in your job. Don’t be humble! You don’t have to worry about the big humongous goals you complete. You make small achievements on a daily basis.

Every day I write down three successes I have had and three things I am grateful for. Sometimes I don’t think I have done anything, but we all have little things like responding to an email or calling someone you haven’t talked to in a while.

Make sure you record your achievements on a daily basis.

Record Your Key Sources of Influence

Your key sources of influence are your mentors. The people who will help you get to the next level. Your current boss, someone in a different department, or someone really high up there that will give you the background info you need to take your career to the next level. You want them on your side.

What jobs do you want someday? Go scout out the people who are already in those jobs. Those people need to be your key sources of influence. People within your current company and OUTSIDE of your current company.  You may need to leave your company someday, you never know!

Create Your Own Report Card

If someone was going to grade you right now. What grade would they give you? This might require you to get away from the office and think about how you have been doing over the whole year at work. Time to be honest with yourself!

Seek Feedback

Get more insight into how you are doing. A team is only as good as its leader. Are there any improvements you can make to help your team and yourself be more successful?

I recommend a 360-degree assessment. It’s a process where you receive anonymous feedback from those you work with by creating survey questions. You can use Survey Monkey, Google Docs, or ask for feedback in person. This is a great way to break down any communication barriers with your team. Asking in person shouldn’t be your first choice though because your employees may not be completely honest with you.

Create Your Goals and Your 90-Day Action Plan

Make your career goals for six months, one year, and five years. Think short-term and long-term. What I want to teach you is also to create your 90-day plan. 90 days is that sweet spot where you can see results and make big things happen.  Things just start happening after 90 days, but you have to be on board from day one and know what actions you need to take.

Today you can start that 90-day plan, and in three months you can make a ton of awesome things happen! Have that long-term vision and break it into chunks. Keep repeating every 90 days and you will see big results in your career!

Do you have a career development action plan? Share your goals in the comments section!