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Talking to your manager about potential career development opportunities can seem daunting…

Before talking to your manager about career progression, you might be thinking:

  • Does it show that you’re not happy about your current role? 
  • Does it make you seem like a troublemaker?
  • Are you going to get much help anyway?

But, for most of us, career progression is vital to our own happiness, and your manager should be there to help nurture this natural need. 

It’s a discussion you shouldn’t shy away from. If conducted in the right way, you are actually demonstrating a ‘hunger’ to progress — a quality that is usually seen as positive by a manager and an organisation. So whether you’ve been with your company for one or 20 years, an honest conversation with your boss can have a meaningful impact on your career trajectory.

Here are 5 steps to ensure you approach your manager in the right way.

Step 1 — Arrange a meeting

This is not a topic that can be conducted as a passing conversation in the middle of a bullpen. You need to put a reasonable amount of time aside if you want to have a constructive discussion, so ask your manager if you can book a meeting. This also demonstrates that you’re taking the topic seriously.

Step 2 — Prepare

If you want your manager to help you, then it’s important to demonstrate how serious you are about your progression – so make sure you’re prepared for the meeting.

  • Have a clear idea about your career direction and how you see these opportunities benefitting you and the organisation you work with.
  • Have a concise and clear plan on what you would like to do and possible options you would like to explore.
  • Consider your strengths and weaknesses alongside this. These may have been identified during your last performance review, but if not, take the time to identify them as they will provide a starting point for your career development plan.

Step 3 — Begin talking to your manager

Once the discussion has begun, try to adhere to the following points:

  • Articulate how you believe these opportunities will link directly to your career goals and in line with your performance review discussions. 
  • Outline how your skills will develop through these opportunities.
  • If you’re unsure about if there are opportunities in the organisation or department/s,  then it is helpful to emphasise that you are happy in your current role, however believe you have more to offer the organisation and therefore would like to explore options. During this conversation be clear on what you enjoy, what areas you think you can grow further in and how these lead to your long term career aspirations.
  • At this stage, you may also want to explore with your manager what development opportunities there may be within your current role/team, such as special projects or short-term secondments.

Step 4 — Avoid being confrontational

Sometimes your manager could suggest a different career path plan for you. If this is the case, take that on board and keep your comments and thoughts constructive, rather than confrontational and dismissive. 

It’s important that you are both in the right frame of mind to consider the various options on offer. Conducting yourself in this way will show your manager that you are enthusiastic rather than resentful and self-motivated.

Step 5 — Prepare to act independently as well

Your manager isn’t the only person who will determine your career progression. You can take matters into your own hands by:

  • Taking an online education class to further your skills and career 
  • Reading more industry-related publications
  • Attending events/conferences
  • Building your own professional network

You can also call one of our experienced career coaches on 1300 687 327 if you would like to understand your career direction further.

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