Charting the Course For My Next Career Move
Since joining my employer 9 months ago, I’ve entered the realm of management and have gained valuable skills. I am constantly challenged everyday and I continue to learn new things about myself and others. It’s pretty funny when I think about it because I’m developing my own little management style and learning how to influence a large group of people. So far, most of it can be attributed to “on-the-job” training, observing leadership that I admire, and a few required courses to maintain my career field license/certification. But now, I am ready to take more formal courses so that I can learn to lead a team more effectively, strengthen my leadership skills, and of course, prepare for my next career move.
You’re probably thinking “it hasn’t been a whole year, Single Ma, you’re planning a move already!” and you would be correct. I am on the fast track - always have been, always will be. My mission is to get in, politick, pursue high profile assignments, solve problems, build relationships, leave a lasting impression, then move on. This has been my steelo for the past 6 years. It hasn’t failed me yet and I don’t plan to stop anytime soon - at least until I reach the top and have nowhere else to go.
To lay the foundation for my next career move, I have carefully selected the following leadership courses:
The Professional Woman. This is a basic leadership course that will help me develop and implement a leadership vision, communicate effectively, and identify and leverage leadership opportunities.
Leadership and Management Skills for New Managers. This is another basic leadership course, but it will teach me to implement change, manage different views to reach agreements, and gain support from others to obtain successful results.
Leadership Skills and Techniques. This is an intermediate management course that will teach me the various leadership styles and techniques, personal leadership branding, relationship building, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Effective Supervision. This is an advanced management course that will teach me how to set expectations and manage results, evaluate employee performance, effective feedback, and coach and motivate employees.
Notice the progression: basic, intermediate, advanced. This is part of my strategy. In conjunction with my daily efforts and consistent results, these courses will fill the void I need to prove my worth and sell my case. I’ve already registered and submitted the funding requests for all four of them. AND…I already put the dates on my calendar, which span between March and July. Hmph, think I’m playing? LOL
Since August is the anniversary of my last major salary increase, completing the courses in July will create the perfect opportunity to begin planting the seed. There are two more levels between my current position and my ultimate career goal, and I’d like to achieve the first before my BabyGirl leaves for college. The final, what I refer to as “HBIC!” LOL, is extremely political and will require a lot more effort than I’m willing to invest while she’s still at home. So if everything goes according to plan, I should secure my next promotion between Sept 2008 and Feb 2009.
[image credit: planitplus.net]
~*~*~*~*~*~Work to achieve, not to acquire.
And as always, BE FABULOUS!
16 comments:
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Fabulous Financials v2.0 » Single Ma’s "To Do" List for 2008 (Pingback), 20 January 2008, 17:16
[…] Attend at least 4 leadership seminars - See “plan” below […]
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» Economic Stimulus (and Blog Roundup) on Consumerism Commentary: A Personal Finance Blog (Pingback), 22 January 2008, 0:09
[…] Ma is charting the course for her next career move. I’m contemplating some changes at the office as well, so perhaps there will be more news as […]
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Fabulous Financials v2.0 » Accepting an Employer Counter Offer is a Bad Idea (Pingback), 13 February 2008, 7:49
[…] do, then do something else.” It really is that simple. Hence, the reason I’m back in strategic planning mode, my recent acknowledgment of lessons learned, and my willingness to take one for the team. At this […]
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Fabulous Financials » Temptation (Pingback), 7 March 2008, 8:31
[…] of the four leadership classes that I wanted to attend were previously rejected due to “limited funds” but now have […]
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Capricorns really do think alike. I think I was on my job for one week before I observed and planned for what my next position would be and tried to gauge how long it would take me to get there. I hope you will share what you learn in these leadership courses with the blog world.
Great plan. Thanks for planting the seed.
Hey Single Ma,
Sounds like good plan. In the meantime, here is something that has worked in my situation in the past: I have gone to my bosses and requested a review of my job description for accuracy and an HR assessment. More often that not, the job description was out of date as to the level of responsibility and the skills required for the job I was doing as opposed to the job I was hired to do. I have achieved at least two level adjustments by doing this. They weren’t called ‘promotions’ but the net effect was the same, (more money, higher level, but with the same title). This also left me able to go for promotions because there was not a “just got promoted” problem.
you can do it.. I know you can.. I have a few books related to each if you need it. *I know how much you love to read* LOL
While I will no longer be reading your blog I wanted to wish you the very best in both your personal and professional lives. I think you’re very savvy and I have THROUGHLY enjoyed reading your blog.
Yes Capricorns do indeed think alike.
Where are you taking these courses? Local college? Online? I sure wish my employer would reimburse for the graduate certificates.
When it comes to a salary increase, how much of a raise should you expect? I mean how do you calculate that? Before, just getting a raise was enough for me. But now, being more financial savvy than I was a year ago, I don’t want just any old increase. I want one that correlates with my growth and contributions to the company in the last year.
Sorry for the 21 questions.
@ Serenity - I will share as much as I can. I’m thinking of starting a career segment and writing about career related topics once per week.
@ chele - Hey lady! Missed ya.
@ nofear - That strategy is very helpful and I’m sure others could benefit from it, but unfortunately, my JD will never change. It’s broad coverage of the entire career field responsibilities, not just specific duties.
@ BK - *sigh* That procrastination bug gets the best of me every time.
@ Candice - Thank you.
@ Dimples - The courses are provided by a firm that specializes in mgt development. All of them are traditional classroom courses.
re: raises. For a regular annual raise, I always shoot for 7-10%. This is to meet inflation and regular COLA plus merit for being a top performer. Of course, this depends on the annual budget and what I’ve accomplished for the year. For a promotion increase, the pay scale is already predetermined and I always fall somewhere in the middle, which turns out to be at least 15% or more.
As you know, it depends on many variables, but you said the magic words - YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS to the organization. You should always document your accomplishments throughout the year so when they ask “what have you done for me lately?” you’re ready to prove your worth.
Great post. It’s got me thinking about how leadership may be able to play a role in my career development.
You should have name this post “Single Ma does not like commitment ! ” Ha
Gurl, u are a go-getter, which is soooo cool
I have commitment-phobia. I thought you knew! LOL
Good luck.
I am sure with your well thought out plans, you’ll get what you aim for.
Keep us posted.
I too developed my own management style from observing my superiors, and from my many years of experience working as a supervisor. Most of it learned “on the job.” A very small percentage from books and seminars.
The Young Entrepreneur Society from the nice try, no business promoting allowed, a site filled with valuable success info.