You don’t need to overhaul your life to make progress. Start small and stay consistent, but the truth is, if you don’t plan your career, no-one else will. Photo: Envato Elements.
Leah Lambart says it is easy to get stuck in mid-career, consumed by day-to-day tasks, without thinking about your next crucial steps. She urges you to set aside time to plan a course towards a successful future.
Have you ever looked up from your day-to-day work and thought: “Where am I actually heading with my career?”
If so, you are far from alone. Many of us get so busy ”doing the work”, we forget to plan for the work that we truly want to be doing.
The reality is that career progression rarely happens by accident. If you want to feel more fulfilled, energised, and valued at work, then a career development plan is essential.
Whether you’re navigating a career break, wanting to step up into leadership, or thinking about a complete career change, this is your reminder that you are allowed (and encouraged) to be intentional with your future.
Here’s what to consider when building your career development plan.
Define your destination: What are you aspiring to?
A clear destination helps you stay focused and motivated. Ask yourself a series of questions.
What kind of work do I want to be doing in the next 12 to 24 months? Do I aspire to a particular role in my current organisation or externally? What strengths do I want to use more often? What kind of roles, responsibilities or organisations excite me? Are my values aligned with my current work?
Have a go at drafting a ”reverse job advertisement’’. This should include the strengths and skills you want to be using, your ideal work environment and the level of responsibility.
You should also include the type of people you want to work with and the impact you want to make.
Identify the gaps: What feedback or development do you need?
If there’s a gap between where you are and where you want to be, feedback is your friend.
Have you had a recent performance review? What skills, qualifications, or experience might be holding you back?
Are there ”people-centric skills”, such as influencing, stakeholder management or executive presence, that might be holding you back?
Instead of trying to guess, ask for feedback from trusted colleagues, mentors or your manager. This helps take the emotion out of it and gives you a clear roadmap for development.
Try asking: “What’s one thing I could do more of, or better, to prepare for my next step?”
Be realistic: How much time and budget can you invest?
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that you need to enrol in a diploma or MBA to develop professionally. The truth is that small, consistent actions can make a big difference.
How much time can you dedicate to learning and upskilling each week? Is money available from your employer for professional development? Could you explore free or low-cost options before committing to a bigger investment?
Consider options such as micro-credentials, on-the-job projects, LinkedIn Learning, podcasts, or mentorship. Growth doesn’t always require a formal course or big price tag.
Seek support: Who can help you get there?
Career development isn’t a solo pursuit. You may need support from your manager, Human Resources, mentors or even your broader professional network.
Could your manager help access shadowing, mentoring, or secondment opportunities? Would someone in your team be willing to mentor or coach you informally? Do you have a support crew who will encourage you and hold you accountable?
Book a regular check-in with your manager to review progress. You’re more likely to stay motivated when your goals are supported and visible.
Here are a few ideas that won’t require you to put your life on hold.
Attend one webinar a month; read a book on leadership or industry trends; join a professional association or networking group.
You could also volunteer for a work project outside your current functions if one exists, or proactively seek feedback from a mentor.
You should identify one person who performs a key skill you want to improve on and block one hour a week for ”career time”.
You don’t need to overhaul your life to make progress. Start small and stay consistent, but the truth is, if you don’t plan your career, no-one else will.
You need to own your career — carve out time to reflect, set goals, and take even the smallest steps forward so you can build momentum.
Leah Lambart is the founder of Relaunch Me, based in Victoria. She helps people find the work that they were meant to do. She can be contacted at [email protected]. This article first appeared on Leah’s blogsite.
