Each year is an opportunity to set new career goals, especially for those looking to advance within their careers.  Whether or not the new role or promotion materializes for you, this is the time to mentally reset and continue on the path to that new position or promotion or develop your approach to the next milestone of your career.  This is your time!

As much as we all wish that career advancement in the corporate world was homogeneous, we can acknowledge that this is not the case today. The truth of the matter is that the rules of the game change depending on many factors such as industry, geographic location, organizational level, gender, race, and identity.

Although we may be faced with these hurdles to overcome, there are things within our control that we can do to reinforce our strengths and continue to enhance our skill sets. Improving these things can provide a sense of achievement no matter where our respective careers take us.

Goal Setting

Setting up your goals in a manner that is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) is the minimum bar for goal setting. Just as important (if not more) is that you integrate the measurable and tangible activities that you and your manager have discussed into your goals so that these areas continue to be part of your quarterly and semi-annually discussions. Doing this helps actively remove obstacles that may be standing in your way and, at the very least, demonstrates maturity and the ability to adapt. Being deliberate about what is contained in your goals can set the floor for honest and open conversations with your manager regarding your advancement.

Organizational Values

Every organization has a certain image that it wishes to convey both internally and externally. If you don’t share the perceived and demonstrable values of the organization for which you work, it will be difficult (if not impossible) to advance where you are and it may be time to consider external opportunities. While I have experienced short-term success in these trying situations, I will confess that the level of energy needed to excel was hardly worth it and (in my case) personally deflating.  Deciding whether your values are aligned with the organization’s is key. Demonstrating these actual or stated values as you move up the organizational structure will help secure your success.

‘This job will not save you, Jimmy” – Lester Freamon, HBO Series, The Wire

In the HBO series, The Wire, the character, Jimmy McNulty, spends about 2 minutes talking in the office about how great he is at his job and that very few, if any, could do the job he does with a police case. For Jimmy, the only aspect of the job was the work. The problem was Jimmy didn’t share the company’s values. While he was considered ‘good police’, it was never enough to place him in the position or status he wanted from his superiors.

The lesson here is that, at some point, you will need to demonstrate the organization’s values or accept a career in the margins.  If you share the organizational values, you must show how you demonstrate these values and make certain those efforts are clear and documented in your goals.  Demonstrating the organizational goals is an important part of the performance evaluation equation and often displaying shared values could be the distinguishing factor when determining who to promote.

It’s not too late!

If you’ve already submitted your goals, it is not too late.  Many companies have mid-year evaluations where goals can be changed to reflect changes in organizational or departmental direction. Take advantage of these opportunities. Talk to your manager and request modifications to your goals throughout the year.  Good managers are always evaluating and providing advice to their employees.

Goal setting is always a tough part of the year.  We are all trying to forecast what we are going to do in a world that is changing faster than ever.  That said, we must remain diligent with this part of the journey as it keeps us accountable to ourselves and what we are trying to accomplish. I wish you all the best.

I’d love to hear about your career journey experiences. Please share what you have learned on your promotion pathway.