Are you waiting for someone to move you forward?

Don’t wait for a job crisis to build your network or grow your leadership.

One of the hardest moments I witness in coaching is when someone is let go or feels stuck . It’s then they realize they haven’t built the relationships or skills they need to take the next step. Career growth doesn’t just happen at work. It happens when you:

• Ask for feedback from people you trust and respect and who have a stake in your career success

• Volunteer for a cause that stretches you

• Say yes to leading a community effort

• Serve on a board or help organize a local event

• Take a course or training that sparks new curiosity

These experiences grow your confidence, sharpen your judgment, and put you in rooms where new opportunities are born. If you’re early in your career, here’s my advice: Start building now. Your future self will thank you..

Mary McGuinness is a certified ICF leadership and personal development coach whose mission is to help others maximize their potential to create ambitious plans for themselves, their organizations, and the teams they lead. You can find out more about Mary and how she provokes imagination that leads to dramatic results at marymcguinness.com.