Career Advancement: Take Baby Steps

When thinking of career advancement, many people wait for that big moment—the promotion they have been hoping for, or the high-profile project that will put them in the spotlight. And while those events are great, they tend to be few and far between.

But you can really shortchange yourself if you overlook the little things that can be very helpful to your career. As this article says, there are some easy things you can do to pave the way for big changes in your career.

The first, of course, is to think small. Waiting for those big moments can be frustrating—and trying to pull off some big career coup can be overwhelming. But by pinpointing a few small steps you can take to get you in the direction you want to go, you make it more manageable.

Next, it helps to have a plan—but you should keep it basic and simple. Again, this keeps it from becoming too intimidating while still giving you a roadmap of where you want to go. For maximum efficiency, use this plan in conjunction with your calendar, to coordinate a schedule for when you should take certain steps on your plan.

Another good tactic is to keep an ongoing accomplishment log (which could also include a kudos file). This is where you keep a record of the successes you have had and the projects you have completed. This way, you will have this information handy when you have the opportunity to toot your own horn. As a bonus, it’s also a great confidence booster!