Recently, I was speaking with a client who was feeling very frustrated about her lack of career progression.

She was very experienced in her field and described herself as the “go-to” person for anything to do with her field of work.

I asked her about her professional development and she reeled off a list of courses she’d attended during the year. I could clearly see how serious she was about maintaining her professional education.

She certainly knew her stuff, yet she was having trouble reaching the next level in her career.

As we talked, it became clear that the courses she’d attended were all quite technical. They were designed to keep her up to date with the latest developments affecting her work. In other words, they advanced the knowledge and skills she needed to do her current job.

When I asked about her career plans, she was very clear on where she wanted to go. What she hadn’t thought about were the new skills she’d need in the next role.

Sadly, this is a common occurrence. We concentrate on proving how well we can do our current job, as though this was all we’d need for the next role. What is important to remember is that,

what got you here won’t get you there!

You’re in your current role because you proved you were capable, and you’ve demonstrated your capability every day since. But every new role will ask something different from you and if you can’t show you have the required skills or knowledge, there’s little chance of getting the job.

If you want to keep climbing the career ladder you need to keep an eye on the rung ahead of you. And the rung ahead of that!

What does that mean?

Well, it means working out what the next job will demand from you and making sure you’re ready for it.

I often talk about continuous development because there’s no growth without it.

Unless you’re working on yourself, you’ll still be where you are right now when you reach the end of your career.

Don’t sit and wait to be offered some training. Ask for it.

When you show your interest and intentions, most managers will support you. They’re only too pleased to find someone engaged and positive about their role.

Don’t just think about in-house training.

• What about finding a mentor or sponsor?
• What about external training, workshops or conferences?
• What about online programs and education?

One of the greatest challenges we see is inadequate attention and guidance being provided at that crucial step from manager to leader. At Athena Coaching we work with businesses to provide current and upcoming leaders with the skills they need to become great leaders.

Talk to us about Athena Leadership Academy and how it benefits you as an individual, and your organisation.

Don’t miss out on your next job because you’re relying on your current skills. Keep learning, keep developing.