A Great Career Starts with a Growth Mindset

This article has been inspired from a conversation with Regina Allanah in my most recent podcast here: https://www.betterpublication.com/3-things-you-can-do-to-prepare-yourself-for-a-great-career/

The initial excitement of landing a job after graduating fades quite quickly. At the start you are up for taking on every challenge and are driven to become the CEO of the company.

Interns and graduates keep this mindset up for about a month before they realise that work is really what you make of it. Unfortunately, no one is there to guide you to the next promotion and your development is up to you.

The realisation of this either makes those in their early career more driven to succeed or sit back and lower their expectations. Unfortunately, it is often the latter that happens.

I do believe that most companies can do a better job at managing their early careers expectations, but it ultimately comes down to the individual and their mindset.

Those who are ambitious and believe they are constantly in a phase of development refine their skills and end up becoming the leaders. Although they will never attain perfection, their pursuit towards it is what makes them great.

In this article, Regina Allanah highlights three things that allowed her to receive a reward from the Queen of England and achieve remarkable things in her career. You can also find out the one thing she would advise her younger self here.

1. Never Get Comfortable

At the start of your career, it is easy to find yourself getting comfortable. Let’s face it, you spent ages applying and you finally have a chance to take a breather without worrying about applications.

However, at the start of your journey, getting comfortable is the worst thing you can do. By getting comfortable, we do not mean enjoying the work you are doing and being happy to do it for a sustained period. If that is you, then you might have just found a job that you love.

What we mean is being willing to remain in the same position you are at now. Doing so only leads to stagnation in your career because whilst others are learning and excelling, you are being left behind.

It is essential to see every job as both a way to add value above expectations and a means to grow. Getting comfortable and staying in the same position will only lead to a career that does not feel meaningful.

So, if you feel yourself finding the job easy or not adding to your personal development, consider moving or changing your mindset. The last thing you want is to stay in a role for five years with not one skill developed to show for it.

2. Do Not Be Limited to One Industry

One of the things we often get told before our first work experience is to find an industry that interest us. Although this advice helps us narrow our search for what we want to do, it gives rise to many other implications on our career path.

In today’s world, it is normal to move around. We no longer stay in one job for 25 years. Instead, we look for progression and variety in our work. However, many of us can do this within the industry we choose.

To really broaden our horizon, we should attempt to take a step outside of our comfort zone. Moving company or job roles in the same industry allows us to utilise knowledge we already have. That is not a bad thing because it ensures we can add value with our experience.

Nevertheless, it is often when we are thrown into the deep end that we truly learn how to float. Taking a step outside of your industry will lead you to develop a diverse set of interpersonal skills and knowledge that is required. It will also grow your network and help you identify just how transferrable your skills really are.

If there is anything that will push you beyond your own knowledge and experience, it is moving industry. Most people who have had great careers often have a history of moving industries at some point. You will also find that their experience serves as a pivotal moment in their career where they gained more insight and growth.

3. Develop Your Skills to Be Ahead

Finally, we often hear this constant message to develop our skills. Our most powerful resources are the knowledge we have stored in our brains and the skills that come along with it.

When it comes to developing skills, it is not just about taking courses or learning from a mentor. You must also think about the long-term impact of the skill in your career.

When putting together a development plan, try to identify some of the skill gaps that society might have within the next 5 years. Also, evaluate your current skill set and see how your job is putting them to use or not.

You do not just want to develop your skills to fulfill the role you are in. You also want to think ahead to the next emerging skills that everyone will need in the workforce.

Therefore, develop skills for today and tomorrow. It is your best chance of remaining relevant in the workforce while innovative technologies and new ways of working enter the world.

I am on a journey to speak to 1000 global leaders to learn about the three pivotal moments that brought them to become who they are today. You can gain access to all my podcast episodes by clicking here.

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