Want to accelerate your career success and opportunity for promotion and better assignments? Step into projects or other opportunities that will challenge and develop your skills such as taking on a floundering corporate project, public speaking or undertaking some other difficult task. As professionals it is critical we continue to grow our expertise and stretch ourselves to build our bench strength.
Learn from top performers who have a habit of ‘stepping into the fire’ and putting it all on the line. It’s as if they aren’t afraid to fail. What these individuals have honed is a focus on taking small steps and through this have built their confidence to take on larger, more daunting challenges.
So if you would rather do anything but step into an uncomfortable situation, i.e. go to an industry networking event or have a difficult conversation with your boss, Harvard Business Review’s Andy Molinsky recommends you don’t try to tackle these challenges directly, but rather warm up to them. Take small steps. If you have a challenge engaging in difficult conversations start by taking a conflict conversations course. If networking is your biggest challenge, go to your next event with a wingman (a friend to help you overcome your fear), and set a small goal to meet 2 people. Once you have met your goal give yourself the option to leave.
The courage to take on these challenges is essential to moving your career forward and developing the ability to take on bigger and more exciting career opportunities.
Read more in Harvard Business Review: ‘If You’re Not Outside of your Comfort Zone, Your Won’t Learn Anything’.
Wishing you much career success,
Joanne Loberg
Certified Executive Coach & Internationally Certified Career Management Professional
JL Careers Inc.
