Make your ambitions a reality?
We have five tips for you!
Taking initiative is essential for growth and development. And for making your ambitions a reality. If you want something, you have to go for it! It won’t come to you on its own. Put yourself out there, seize opportunities and possibilities, and keep developing yourself. Here are five tips on how you can achieve your ambitions.
Make your ambitions known
Let your manager know about your ambitions. How can you move forward if no one knows which direction you want to go in? We’re often afraid to share our ambitions—afraid they won’t see it in us or that there won’t be space for it. If that’s the case, then this is not the right employer for you!
Dare to share with your manager what you want. Dare to ask when you can take a step up in your role or salary, and what goals you need to achieve to do so. Are you new to an organization or function? Give yourself at least a year to fully master your job and be proactive.
Create a development plan
If you truly want to move forward, your manager will work with you to see where you want to go and how you can get there. Make your expectations clear and be sure you’re on the same page. Draw up a Personal Development Plan together with specific steps to take. What will be your focus for the next six months? And the six months after that? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What will you work on and how will you approach it?
What is achievable in your current position
We’re often afraid of making a new move. But sometimes this is actually the best choice. Look around, talk to others, and if it feels right, you’ll know! Time to go—or sometimes it’s just a bit too soon. Maybe your current employer is still a great learning environment, but not your final destination. As long as you are somewhere you can keep learning and there are still great opportunities, STAY there! If it’s a dead end, GO!
Employers want to invest in you
More and more employers are willing to pay for training and to think things through with you. They just don’t advertise it. So, do your homework: What would you like, why would you want it, what do you hope to achieve with it, and what’s the added value for the company?
If you present this plan to an employer, including a cost estimate, your chances are good. You show you are serious and motivated—and that’s what employers want to see. Don’t be afraid of a possible study agreement. It’s becoming increasingly normal for a new employer to take over an outstanding study debt.
Avoid the scenario of missed opportunities
Your ambitions could be what pushes you to leave. Or, there might be something you don’t like about the organization. Either way: “Dare to speak up.” Otherwise, you risk missing out on opportunities.
Sometimes, a problem at work can be so severe that you feel forced to leave. When you make this decision, you miss out on a golden opportunity! Realize that this is your chance to truly make a difference and drive change.
