Career Success - The Key Question You Must Answer

By Duncan Brodie

Whatever point you are at in your career, chances are that you want to achieve success. The reasons why people want career success are varied and include:

• Financial rewards and benefits
• The status and standing of being in a senior role
• The challenge of climbing the career ladder and overcoming the obstacles that arise
• Sense of personal achievement

While there are a whole host of reasons why people want to achieve career success, there is in my experience one key question that you need to be able to answer. So what is that question?

WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL CAREER GOAL?

There are a number of reasons why it is essential that you answer this question and they include:

Reason 1: Helps you make choices
If you want to climb the career ladder and get a senior level post, you will need to gain a wide of skills, knowledge and experience. In addition, you will have to develop a broad range of personal attributes. Chances are there will be many opportunities that will arise which might appear attractive financially but might not be beneficial in achieving your overall career goal. By being clear on your overall career goal you can make informed career move choices.

Reason 2: Helps you decide priorities
Every time you make a choice around your career, for example, stepping up to the next level, chances are you will be required to commit more to work. If this fits in with your priorities around lifestyle then there is no problem. The reality is that most people don't take the time to consider where career fits into there overall lifestyle priorities. We sometimes forget that the majority of people work to live not live to work.

Reason 3: Helps you determine how much you want it
Climbing the career ladder and holding down a job at a senior level is not easy. A question you need to be able to answer is how much do you want it? You will need to consider how determined you are, how much sacrifice you are ready to make, how much pressure you are comfortable dealing with to name just a few. I suggest you rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 means that you want it 100% and are willing to do what it takes to get there.

Bottom Line - Achieving career success requires determination, drive and a whole range of other personal attributes. At the end of the day you need to be clear on your overall career goal if you are to maximise your chances of career success.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements (G&A) works with individuals, teams and organisations to develop their management and leadership capability.

With 25 years business experience in a range of sectors, he understands first hand the real challenges of managing and leading in the demanding business world.

He invites you to sign up for his free e-course and newsletter at http://www.goalsandachievements.co.uk/