3 Simple Keys to Career Advancement

Hard work and persistence will get you far in your career, however, if you want to advance at a faster rate you must go above and beyond your regular work ethic. Here are 3 ways to accelerate your career advancement!

1.  Dress to Impress

How a person chooses to dress has a direct impact on their professional progress. Professionals should take their cue from people who are already in the positions they want, in the company they are in. If he or she wants to take on a leadership title, then he or she needs to imitate how managers and team leaders dress. They don't need to copy the exact attire, only the style and tone of it.

2.  Sponsors are Functionally Mandatory

Many people have made it to great positions just by working hard and being noticed by the right people. However, that is rarely the case in modern companies. There is simply too much talent everywhere that simply being exceptional is no longer enough. Now, sponsors are functionally mandatory for anyone who wants to go far in their careers.

Most of the time, one's sponsor is also their mentor, but that's not always the same thing. In fact, while they do overlap in certain respects, their responsibilities vary greatly. Mentors are there to improve skills and make people better at their jobs, while sponsors are largely there to evaluate whether or not someone is ready for more responsibilities.

Finding a sponsor is a matter of power and willingness. A good sponsor is not only willing to provide their support, but they also have the influence or position to actually make that support count.

3.  Self-Promotion is Part of the Game

In many corporate cultures, it's perfectly understandable - even expected - that people will highlight and promote their accomplishments. However, the challenge most people face goes beyond simply considering self-promotion. It's important to figure out when doing so is strategically appropriate, for the most part, it's a matter of timing. If it's on topic, or relevant to the current listener, then it's a good time to engage in self-promotion.

While all these tips will help, it's important to remember that nothing can replace great work and exceptional performance. No amount of proper self-promotion, for example, will help if there's nothing to self promote. It's important to consider these as additions to your career advancement arsenal, not replacements.

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