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How to Power Up Your Career Potential
Words by Rebecca Oduntun
Financial powerhouse, Rebecca Oduntun tells us her top 7 tips on how to thrive in your profession. In the midst of chaos, don’t lose heart! Power up your career potential.
When you start your career, you are given so much advice like “be ambitious, think outside of the box, build your network” - advice that quite frankly usually goes into one ear and out the other. In order for you to really begin to boost your career potential, you must first understand the small details that make or break your career. During this time, whilst many are unsure about the future of their careers or have lost their roles due to Coronavirus, it’s actually the perfect time to power up your career potential. Establish yourself as an asset that no company can let go of – especially when faced with a crisis.
Be bold!
When entering into a new position or company, it’s almost second nature for many of us to begin to act timid or shy. The best thing you can do for yourself is to be bold at all times. Speak with authority and whenever you don’t understand something, ask questions. Questions are a sign of strength, not weakness! Be bold about who you are and what you know you are capable of doing. Whilst working from home, be bold enough to remain in contact with your managers and colleagues. Don’t hide or shy away from contacting them if you need clarity or information. Be bold enough to be accountable. Let your managers and supervisors know exactly what you plan to do with each day that you are working at home. You may even want to let your colleagues know, it will keep them motivated and encourage them to do the same.
Focus on the details
The little things really do matter. Look at it this way, how can you be trusted to manage the larger projects if you are unable to manage the small? It is how well you pay attention to the little you have been given that then grants you access to more. We never really know what comes with many of the things we think we want. You may want to be the director of a company but as a junior, can you deliver? Has your mind told you that the role you currently do isn’t particularly important, so you only have to deliver at basic level? Have you convinced yourself that once you’ve reached a higher level, this is when you will begin to deliver at a higher level? More often than not, this won’t happen. Pay attention to the little and you can then be trusted with much.
Become a doer
Be a solution focused person and not someone that only provides excuses. People who are able to find solutions will always remain an asset to any company. Even when you are not sure if your solution will solve the problem, do not hesitate in putting your suggestions forward. Everyone loves a forward thinker!
Ability to see things through
We are all guilty of starting things that we know we have no real intention of finishing however, a person who always quits can never be an asset. The key to being able to see things through is having a reason why you are doing that thing. If you don’t have a reason, you won’t see anything wrong with quitting. There are always going to be days that you feel like giving up, however, having a reason why will act as your comfort during this time and will encourage you to keep going.
Focus
A person who is focused does not have options. Being focused means that any distractions around you cannot affect the task at hand. If you can remain focused for long enough, you will always see the benefits – this works for your personal life too.
Diligence
A diligent person takes great care in their work and always ensures that whatever they do, is always carried out to the best standard. If you know something can be done better, do it better - even if it is not required. Get into the habit of always delivering high quality work.
Consistency
Be consistent in everything that you do. Avoid being someone whose personality, level of work, attitude and punctuality wavers or is constantly up or down. Your managers will never know what to expect from you. If you are going to be excellent, be excellent always. If you only want to produce ‘good’ work, always produce good work (although we do hope that you would prefer to be excellent). The point is, remain consistent. Consistency is one of the most sought out qualities that employers look for in an employee.