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You might have a list of personal goals you’re striving for in 2023, but what about your career? Are you aiming for a promotion in the new year or a job change?
Just like having resolutions for our personal lives keeps us moving forward, having professional goals aids career progression and development. In fact, research shows that “there is indeed a link that is inseparable between goal setting and workplace performance.”
Here’s how you can set the right goals for your career progression in 2023.
Goal setting for career progression
Reflect on where you are in your career
In order to progress in your career, you need to know where you are and where you want to be. This time of year naturally lends itself to reflection, so we’d encourage you to lean into it.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Am I satisfied with my current role?
Do I want to be with this company long term?
In a year’s time, what kind of role would I like to have?
We’d also recommend researching the current state of the job market in your industry (and for logistics jobs, you can check out our jobs board). Consider whether the salary you’re receiving is on par with what else is being offered, and what kind of benefits are available elsewhere.
Seeing what else is out there can help you decide what your next career move will be and whether you’re ready for career advancement. It can also give you the incentive to ask your boss for a pay rise or additional benefits.
Choose a skill you’d like to learn or develop
In order to grow in your career, you need to be able to take on new responsibilities and challenges. This means you need to be prepared and willing to learn new skills.
Demonstrating your eagerness to learn is an important quality employers look out for. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Harris Poll, 81% of businesses list willingness to learn as their most sought-after skill in employees.
Prove to yourself, and your boss, that you're ready for the next step in your career by taking initiative with your learning. What skills do you need to develop so your manager would feel comfortable allocating you new responsibilities and tasks?
And outside your current role, what skills do you need to develop long-term to reach your overarching career goals?
Find a work mentor
Much like learning a new skill can be career-changing, so can finding the right work mentor. A work mentor is usually someone in a position of seniority, whose experience and knowledge can help you develop in your career.
Because a mentor has already put in the time and energy to progress to where they are today, they can share their learnings and mistakes with you, so you don’t have to suffer the same hardships.
Your workplace may already offer a mentorship program for professional development, but if it doesn’t, raise the idea with your manager. Otherwise, look to your own social circles or even LinkedIn. It is possible that you already know someone who inspires you in their career.
Improve your professional relationships
During any stage of your career, building positive, professional relationships can have a big impact on your career progression.
Whether it’s the support from your co-workers that makes you go for that big promotion or the job opening an industry peer tells you about on LinkedIn, relationship building is an essential part of career growth.
With that in mind, and knowing the last few years may have created more distance between you and your colleagues, make 2023 all about strengthening those relationships (and building new ones).
In the short term, creating stronger professional relationships will help you perform better in your team at work, and in the long term, you’ll have made valuable connections with people in your industry. You never know when you might need to call in a favour!
But make sure your re-engagement doesn’t come from a transactional place i.e. what you can “get” out of it. It should genuinely be about building community and connecting with like-minded people you respect and enjoy being around.