DRAFT 2

e
Here are 5 steps to apply to
aid the transformation of your
career.
STEP 1 – Devise a career
development plan: Plans are not
limited to businesses, we need to
appreciate the need to plan for a
successful career. If you fail to
steer your career in the direction
you choose, its course is likely to
be determined by others.
Always start with the end in
mind and work backward.
Identify what it is that you want
to accomplish and where you
want to be in 5 or 10 years time.
Whether it is running your own
business or getting to the top of
the ladder in your sector, it won’t
happen accidentally. You need to
plan. Effective planning is quite
simply about setting goals which
need to be SMART.
The S in the mnemonic stands
for specific; you need to be
able to define your goal. M is
measurable. You cannot manage
a goal that can’t be measured as
this will enable you to know
when it is accomplished.
The A means your goal must
also be Achievable. Whilst
your goal should be stretching,
it must be something that you
personally can attain. It must
also be Realistic and relevant to
your future ambitions. Lastly,
an effective goal must have a
Timeframe attached to it. You
should set short, medium and
long-term goals. Your plan
should be written down, pass the
SMART test and be reviewed
regularly. Achieving short- term
goals will spur you on to achieve
the medium and longer-term
goals. Don’t wait until the New
Year to map your career goals!
STEP 2 - Identify your strengths
and address your weaknesses:
Businesses analyse their internal
environment by determining
their strengths and weaknesses.
Individuals also need to be fully
aware of these. A strength can
be anything you do exceptionally
well either because it is innate
and a natural gifting or because
it is something you have worked
hard to achieve. In short, your
strength should make you stand
out from the crowd.
There should not be a mismatch
between your strengths and your
career goals. Your passion is
demonstrated in something you
would be willing to do if money
weren’t an issue, something you
can never tire of that puts a smile
on your face.
Employers look for passion
and strengths on your CV and
are increasingly conducting
strength-based interviews in
order to establish what motivates
you and what you are good at.
You should keep a log of major
accomplishments and ensure
your CV is updated regularly, at
least once a year.
Weaknesses are evident in the
things you struggle with, or
only do because you have to.
Unfortunately, many people are
blind to their weaknesses, but
they are things that need to
be addressed in order to turn
them into strengths. A good
appraisal review should highlight
weaknesses and a trusted
friend can also point these out
to you. However, you need
to be receptive to receiving
constructive feedback.
STEP 3 - Identify gaps and
barriers and address them: Many
of us have dreams, unfortunately
for many people aspirations
don’t become actualised because
they fail to plan and address the
obstacles preventing them from
realising their goals.
THE WINNING WOMEN MAGAZINE | MADE FOR GREATNESS 19