Punxsutawney Phil may have seen his shadow again this year, but spring is still on the way.
The weather’s growing warmer and professional baseball players are gearing up for the spring training season.
Following their lead can help you break out of a work rut and improve your professional prospects in the coming months.
Here are some tips to help you build your skills - and put a little spring in your career:
Develop a game plan. Before you make any moves, you need to know where you’re headed. During the last few years, you may have focused simply on keeping your job and paid little attention to how much - or little - you actually enjoy it.
What changes would make your current position more satisfying? A raise? More help? If you’re searching for a job, what criteria are important to you? A flexible schedule? A high level of responsibility? Answering these questions will help determine your direction.
Learn new plays. No matter your field, there’s likely a professional designation that indicates advanced expertise. For example, those in accounting and finance can become certified public accountants; human resources personnel can earn a human resources designation.
Consider obtaining a specialized certification that applies to your industry. If you’ve already earned one, keep your technical skills current by enrolling in continuing professional education courses or attending seminars hosted by local professional associations.
Get in the team spirit. Going it alone isn’t an option in today’s workplace. Companies are increasingly emphasizing collaboration, and strong interpersonal skills are vital to your career success. When working in a team environment, remember that flexibility is key. Roles frequently change, as do project objectives. Allow group accomplishments to take precedence over individual achievements.
Also, focus on building chemistry with your colleagues by remaining as upbeat as possible, even when faced with setbacks. Celebrating each time the group hits a milestone is another a great way to build team spirit.
Become a coach. Organizations are always scouting for their next leaders. And, increasingly, those leaders are coming from the inside. A recent survey commissioned by Robert Half International shows that 60 percent of executives believe companies are more likely to promote from within now than three years ago.
Make sure you’re on your manager’s short list by vocalizing your intentions. If you express a desire to take on more responsibility, he or she may be able to identify projects that will allow you to do so.
