Competitive Edge Career Maintenance Program

How do you keep your career in top running shape when all you do is run all day? The answer is planning and discipline. Let's break it down into time slots.

Annually
Develop three month, six month, and annual goals in tandem with your department/employer's business plan and vision. Get buy-in from your immediate supervisor as well as those above him/her. Make sure your career development program ties to your incentive package.

Assess and discuss, in a formal way, future opportunities with the company along with next steps and enhancements for your current position. Obtain clear direction as to the feasibility and objectives to achieving these goals.

Six Month
If you're on a calendar year performance evaluation cycle, now (mid-year) is the time to take a hard look at where you stand. Negotiate adjustments if necessary. Take responsibility for shortcomings and create an action plan to accelerate progress, so when EOY comes around you are on target.

Monthly
When I was a corporate executive, I made a habit of scaring myself once a month. What was my greatest fear? That my top people would leave to competitors. How did I prevent this? (I was pretty good at retaining winners.) I'd put a little high test in their tank. Nothing fancy, a telephone call at the end of the week where I spoke only of their high value and my appreciation—no shop talk. I'd send a note or card unlike any other they might have received. I'd ask their advice or invite them to be on a special project. Sometimes it was as simple as a lunch or beer. The point was the focus was on them and the value I placed on their work. We take for granted that high performing individuals know how good and respected they are. Talented individuals are often very self critical and that can make them easy targets to be wooed. The other group I made a point of recognizing was my support staff. The women who booked my travel and then had to put up with my many changes, the office geek whose patience rivaled Job's, and the guy in the garage who always managed to get my car up first. Once I acknowledged I needed them more than they needed me, it was easy to scare myself and even easier to praise. Try it.

Weekly
Begin each week with a mini goal setting moment. What is it you need to achieve by Friday? How will you measure it? Do the steps get you closer to you annual goals? What hurdles must be cleared? Who or what might get in the way of your success? This is an important, often overlooked, activity. I generally do this on Sunday evenings or first thing Monday morning. Five or ten minutes can really make a difference in the entire week's outcome.

Daily
I am one of those fortunate people with a very easy and quick commute. That said, I always take at least five minutes while traveling on the subway to look over my calendar for the day. Generally no surprises as to the who and the what; it's more about outcome. Just like checking the gas gauge and cleaning off the windshield. I visualize each appointment time and the person connected with it. I imagine what a success will look like. Then I identify openings in the day for e-mail, telephone, and breaks. It gives me a greater sense of control and the preparation reduces stress. I do the same at the end of the day—acknowledge achievements, adjust for misses, and forgive the mistakes. It's easier to enjoy the ride when you know where you are going.

Are you saying to yourself, "I should be doing all of those things, but I just can't seem to get around to it." Let me assure you, you're not alone. Busy people often put others and tasks ahead of their long-term and immediate needs. The result? You're competition is driving your dream car, gets the raise or bonus, and you are known as the person "who get's work done." More than a few of my coaching clients came to me with just this predicament. We worked on how to close the office door, say "no," and focus on projects rather than tasks. The payoff? They got more of the big things completed, people stopped bothering them with the minutia, and they received the recognition they deserved. Why don't you have a coach?

Jane Cranston is an executive career coach. She works with success-driven executives, managers and leaders to reach their potential, better manage their boss and staff, as well as develop a career strategy to reach goals and aspirations. Jane is the author of Great Job in Tough Times a step-by-step job search system. Click here to subscribe to her twice monthly Competitive Edge Report.

About the Author

Executive and career coach, “The Job Search Expert,” Jane Cranston understands the challenges and opportunities in the workplace. She integrates years of experience as an accomplished senior executive with global brand name companies, with the lessons learned from opening three successful businesses, and then applies her education and coach training. This sophisticated mix affords her clients her unique perspective, business sensibility, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Jane is the founder and Managing Director of ExecutiveCoachNY, an executive and career coaching business based in New York City with clients nationwide. She coaches success-driven executives and managers to develop a career strategy that accelerates advancement, increases compensation, enhances people-management skills as well as gets the competitive edge in all business activities.

Coaching with Jane is dynamic, structured, forward-focused as well as fun and inspirational. Working with clients in fields such as finance, technology, media and entertainment, real estate, and the law, she assists them in recognizing and achieving their full potential at work and in their personal lives.

Clients claim coaching with Jane has “changed my career focus,” “helped me better understand how to motivate my staff,” “given me ideas that have increased my income by $100,000s,” and “made me realize what is my part and what isn’t,” and claim coaching is “the best thing you could do for yourself.”

Jane Cranston is an executive career coach. She works with success-driven executives, managers and leaders to reach their potential, better manage their boss and staff, as well as develop a career strategy to reach goals and aspirations. Jane is the author of Great Job in Tough Times a step-by-step job search system. Click here to subscribe to her twice monthly Competitive Edge Report.