2009 Career Action Plan to Help You Realize Attainable Goals

Contributed by BusinessSuccessCoach.net CEO John M. McKee

Kudos to the paltry few who achieve their New Year’s resolutions. The vast majority of us go right back to our counterproductive ways as it relates to personal health, relationships, careers and otherwise. A fresh New Year is here, and now is the time for those serious about their career to look beyond the ever popular weight loss resolution and commit to making – and sticking to – an Annual Career Action Plan. Doing so will help individuals set an entirely attainable goal for each month of a given year, with the end result being 12 notable achievements that are sure to pay workplace dividends.

I’ve found that Annual Career Action Plans really deliver the goods, notes The method works for nearly anyone who takes a little time to map out tactical goals and objectives for the upcoming year. And, the plan may be embarked upon at any point in a given year to commence the 12-month program…not just in January.

Here is some guidance but be sure to craft a plan with goals and objectives that best suit your own personal circumstance and desired outcome:

Month 1: Establish a “whole life” balance. This is more important than ever before, since 2009 brings with it many challenges – the type that often cause professionals to lose sight of the other things in life that make working so hard “worth it.” It’s okay to burn some midnight oil once in a while, but everyday demands at the expense of your personal or family life is a recipe for disaster: high stress levels and low energy, attention span, patience and tolerance levels makes for a less than likeable co-worker. This, of course, leads to low morale and decreased productivity, which plays into a vicious cycle of both professional and personal unhappiness. When you are frustrated and wound tight, the entire office feels your pain.

Month 2: Do a Self-SWOT analysis. For decades, SWOT analysis has been a basic, straightforward model providing strategic direction to organizations worldwide. By assessing a business entity’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, SWOT analysis serves to maximize a business’ chance for success. In the same manner, individuals should perform a Self-SWOT analysis to identify intrinsic qualities (strengths and weaknesses) that may help or hinder them in the workplace, as well as external issues (opportunities and threats) that may work for or against them as they attempt to climb the corporate ladder.

Month 3: Cultivate a positive “presence.” One’s “presence” plays a big part in who gets promoted and who doesn’t, and even who gets laid off and who doesn’t. In a nutshell, presence is a combination of how we look, how we carry ourselves, and our communication skills. Because many of us still associate one’s appearance, demeanor and speaking ability with their overall ability, this remains a formidable challenge for those who have physical or other bias-based attributes that are difficult, if not impossible to change, such as height or weight. This subjectivity is even worse for women as society is generally more able to accept men with what’s considered to be shortfalls rather than women. Irrespective of these barriers, condition yourself to carry yourself with best posture and to wear attire that imparts your success.

Month 4: Step up self promotion. It is important that those who are in the position to benefit your career in any way know who you are and what you’ve accomplished. Successful business people understand the importance of letting others know about their successes, and go about it in the appropriate way. Join professional or industry associations and get recognized in places beyond where you work. If done properly, it will not be construed as bragging or conceit.

Month 5: Update your skill set. While it commonly pays to show that you are interested in “upgrading” yourself, in 2009 your ability to grow may be more important than ever. With unemployment now at record highs, there is far more demand for jobs than supply. Not staying on par with colleagues and those vying for your job will be a death knell. Take seminars, coursework or leverage other vehicles to get on the leading edge and, thus, maximize your personal value to the organization.

Month 6: Pace your boss. To really stand out from the others and get the all important promotion, ensure you are in the office whenever your boss is in the office. Let her or him see that you share the same work ethic. Right, wrong or indifferent, these are new rules of time management. Simply put, if your boss is at work, you should be as well. If (s)he has decided that it’s necessary to be there after hours, on weekends, or early in the morning, it is entirely to your advantage to be there at the same time. In this day in age, one must take advantage of all opportunities to distinguish themselves in the workplace.

Month 7: Show face. Today’s professional is decidedly “wired,” with email, voice mail, teleconferencing and web-conferencing taking the place of good old human-to-human interaction. The most effective professionals communicate with their colleagues in person whenever possible. Although remote communication is admittedly efficient, technology is not entirely effective when it comes to getting people energized or showcasing your affable personality. There is simply no direct substitute for having a face-to-face dialog – not a monologue – with co-workers, bosses and subordinates.

Month 8: Capitalize on OFFLINE social business networking opportunities. However right or wrong, fair or unfair, just or unjust, strategic networking at office parties can be a career boon. Indeed, getting in the good graces of those with the power to fast-track your career can be a fortuitous turning point that accelerates your climb up the corporate ladder. Stay current on company and industry happenings, and be sure others see you’re on top of your game. Be prepared to articulate ideas on how to foster the company’s success.

Month 9: Over-communicate. Go out of your way to keep others apprised of what you are planning or currently working on. Organizations hate to be surprised and often, when they are, it creates a blueprint for failure – personal or for the project, itself. In many companies this can mean taking meetings with people you may not like or respect, but chalk that up to life in the fast lane. If you think withholding information will allow you to surreptitiously gain professional yardage, think twice. Your concealment can be easily sabotaged based on the plight for secrecy, alone.

Month 10: Ask open-ended questions – Ask a lot of questions to different people in different sides of the company. And then shut up. When you hear the perspectives of people in departments or operations other than yours, it helps you to see the world as they see it and understand what they deem important. It may be different than what the boss has told you. Ask peers, “old timers” at all levels, and superiors. Take notes. Don’t interrupt, you don’t need to show how smart or experienced you are – just learn.

Month 11: Seek ‘buy in.’ It’s important to ensure that everyone who may be influenced by your programs or initiatives is aware of what’s going to happen and feels like they’ve been involved – or, at least, were able to weigh in with their opinions or recommendations. Ideally they’ll be supportive of what you are doing, but at the very least it may reduce friction that could derail your ultimate, longer-term success. Best case scenario is that you learn something that will ensure the success of the activity and your upward mobility, but even in the worst case where others won’t support you, you’ll have learned who’s for or against you and/or the program. Knowledge is power.

Month 12: Secure a mentor. These individuals are still the best way to get an objective handle on what’s really going on in an organization as they can better see the forest through the trees. “Company insider” mentors can give you a fast understanding of the company’s culture. But, a mentor need not be within the organization, as outside “Career Coach” mentors can provide a new, fresh and completely unbiased perspective on both your personal style – what it is and what it “should” be – and how your company’s politics are working in general. A mentor is also a confidant with whom you can not only strategize your career, but also vent about a nasty boss and/or co-worker and otherwise get frustrations off your chest without feeding into the office political game. And, it doesn’t matter if your mentor is not the same gender, as a different perspective than your own can actually be better for you in the long run.

Attempting to attain a measure of professional success with short-sighted methods – or no methods at all – is simply an exercise in futility. Annual Career Action Plans are one easy, self-controlled and empowered way for an individual to foster his or her own upward career mobility.

Business success and career coach John M. McKee is the author of Career Wisdom – 101 Proven Strategies to Ensure Workplace Success”and 21 Ways Women in Management Shoot Themselves in the Foot and Career Wisdom – 101 Proven Ways to Ensure Workplace Success”. He can be reached through his Web site at www.BusinessSuccessCoach.net.