Whether you’re the new kid on the block or you’re already a seasoned veteran in the world of business, there are always going to be opportunities out there for you to progress in your career. It’s just down to you to decide whether you wish to take them or not.
Be warned, though, that these opportunities aren’t going to present themselves to you. Just like everything that is worth having in life, in order to be handed them, you have to put the work in.
If you’re willing to devote extensive amounts of your time and effort to the cause, there’s no telling how far you could go as a businessperson. Before you attain your ultimate professional goals, however, you’re going to have to reach the next level in your career. To find four ways you can take that all-important next step, be sure to read on.
1.Take an advanced degree
If you’ve not already earned an undergraduate business degree (which you very well might not have done, considering it isn’t actually a prerequisite to enter into the world of business), then you really should consider getting yourself one now. No matter your age or level of experience, you will be sure to learn a lot about business by taking a BA course on the subject.
Aside from all the things that you stand to learn on an undergraduate program, taking such a course also has one other big benefit: upon graduation from it, you will be allowed to take an advanced degree. By taking such a comprehensive business course, you will learn how to think like a leader, how to make better decisions, and how to execute what you learn in the real-world.
Are you worried about juggling your life as a working professional (which you really cannot afford to give up) with such an intense level studying? Fear not, as many educational institutions offer students the chance to take their programs remotely.You could, for example, enroll yourself on the Aston University online MBA. Taking this course will allow you to earn your advanced degree in your time and at your own pace. What’s more, upon completing this specific course, you will be granted free AMBA membership. It will give you access to MBA employers across the globe and extend your network in all the right places.
2.Prove your worth to your boss
If you want to reach the next level in your career, then you need to get the right people on your side. With the correct personnel backing you, you will find more opportunities coming your way, and you will be handed the chance to showcase your abilities far more often.
The first person that you need to get on your side in this instance is your boss. As your employer, he or she has the power to hand your opportunities and promote you, meaning he or she currently holds the key to your career advancement. In order to ensure that your boss uses this key to facilitate your professional growth, you need to prove to them that you are, in fact, capable of growing.
This means going above and beyond to prove your worth to them. To do so, you should:
- Always seek to be a part of the bottom line
- Remember, time is money — it’s not a cliche, it’s true!
- Never be afraid to sing your own praises
- Learn how to seal deals and spot ‘deal or no deal’ situations
- Familiarise yourself with your business’s organizational chart
- Seek to be innovative
- Be confident without being cocky
- Learn how to file correctly (which involves keeping an eye on your e-trail)
- Don’t be afraid to say no
- Be an active listener (which means being quiet every once in a while!)
3.Be accountable for your mistakes
Hiding behind others, making false accusations, and playing the blame game will get you nowhere in the world of business. Youhave to be accountable for every action that you take, even if that action is a mistake and results in something going wrong.
By being upfront when things have gone wrong, you will showcase the fact that you have your business’s best interests at heart.Namely, you would rather bring the matter to attention right away in a bid to fix it rather than protect your own professional interests, and that will only ever result in you garnering more trust in the long run. Never, then, be afraid to hold your hands up and admit to making a mistake when you make one. Remember, everybody makes them!
4.Remain positive at all points
As you’ve probably already figured out by this point, the world of business can be incredibly cut-throat. Other people will use you as leverage to better their own careers, employers will sometimes overlook you regardless of how hard you work, and customers will switch their alliance at the drop of a hat. No matter what hurdles you face as you progress in your career, however, you have to remain positive.
By retaining a sense of positivity and being a high-energy character around your workspace, you’ll show that little gets you down. As a result, you’ll be perceived to have what it takes to take on more challenging demands and, as a result of that, your employer won’t have any doubts in upping your workload. What’s more, by injecting your workplace with fresh optimism each day, your colleagues will enjoy working with you, and it’s never a bad thing to have them on your side.
If you truly wish to reach the pinnacle of your career in the world of business, then you need to take each next step as seriously as you did the last. You might have to spend years of your life climbing that ladder, but it’ll all be worth it in the end.
Take an advanced degree, prove yourself to your boss, be accountable for your actions, and remain positive — do all of that, and you’ll reach the next level in your career in no time.
