8 Quick (And Easy) Ways To Make Career Progress When Youre Busy – Forbes

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It might seem impossible to squeeze in those things you need to do to get a professional leg up in these hectic times. But making headway neednt be time-consuming or difficult. Here are eight quick and easy ways to make progress in your career:

Time is a precious and nonrenewable commodity; it will continue to move forward, and you can never get wasted time back. Its far too easy to be busy but not productive, which leaves you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated that you didnt accomplish what you want to do. Protect your time by establishing boundaries, eliminating distractions, and prioritizing what matters most. Saying no to the people and things that dont support your goals will give you more time to say yes to those that do.

There is a plethora of knowledge in a variety of formats and timeframes available to consume. Reading books and articles, watching webinars, TED talks, and masterclasses, and listening to podcasts and audiobooks opens your world to new ideas and possibilities, keeps you current with trends in your industry (or the industry youd like to join), and gives you interesting fodder for chatting up your colleagues and clients. Work it into your daily routine by swapping a Netflix binge session for reading a few chapters or by giving up some scroll time to catch up on your favorite podcast.

Youve likely amassed a wealth of experience, insights, and understanding; put it to good use by helping others. Position yourself as a trusted thought leader by regularly sharing your wisdom in your area of expertise through social media, which amplifies your impact and reach. Provide value by serving, not selling, and focus on sharing real-world business experiences and leadership lessons learned.

Everyone has a unique story, but not everyone leverages its power to position them for success. Properly crafted, your career story helps differentiate you from your competitors, highlight your value, and draw others to you. It provides a common thread that weaves together your personal and professional experiences, as well as your transferable skills, making it easy for others to connect the dots. Make sure you take a few minutes to update your career story on your LinkedIn profile, omitting anything that doesnt support your goals and focus on selling your destiny, not your history.

One of the best (and counterintuitive) ways to get ahead in your career isnt about you at all. Far too often, we assume that everyone thinks, behaves, and communicates the same way we do. Worse, we make the mistake of focusing our sales pitches and communication about us rather than our intended audiences. By putting others first and adopting a service mindset, you can improve your communication and connection, establish trust, deepen relationships, and build business.

If you keep doing the same things, youll never grow. Get over your fear and jump out of your comfort zone. When you challenge yourself to try something that scares youleading a pitch to a new client, presenting your departments quarterly objectives, or asking your boss for more responsibilityyoull move beyond words to action. And when you successfully master that challenge, youll have a newfound confidence. Youll gain positive attention for your fearlessness and initiative. And your decision to take a leap of faith can be the catalyst for further growth.

In your quest to get ahead, dont underestimate the power of your relationships. Surround yourself with people who support and challenge you to be the best version of you and who can help you get there. Grab a small group and form an informal mastermind group where each member can introduce other people and companies and share their expertise and advice. Your environment always wins; make sure your inner circle includes the kind of people with whom youd like to emulate, learn, and collaborate.

Were constantly bombarded with messages of hard-charging executives who never sleep and entrepreneurs who proudly hustle 24/7. But we rarely hear the ugly aftermath of that go-go attitude: chronic stress, burnout, fizzled relationships, and disease. The truth is this: you cant pouror performfrom an empty cup. To make serious career progress, dont neglect your wellbeing. Self-care isnt selfish; you must build in time to recharge your mind, body, and spirit.

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8 Quick (And Easy) Ways To Make Career Progress When Youre Busy - Forbes