Whether you are in an extended job search or actively managing your career, it can be very helpful to have a team of advisers whom you can turn to for input, guidance and support. In today's competitive and challenging job market, professionals need to rely on more than their own experience and perspective to stay ahead of the game.
It's important to be thoughtful about why you are asking for help and how these busy people can best support you. Be prepared to share your career goals, as well as your plans and progress toward these goals as the relationship moves along.
To get started, here are some tips to creating your personal success team:
- Ask the "rock stars" in your field: people you admire, professionals who are the thought leaders in your business. Most of them certainly had someone help them advance and share their "lessons learned" so they are often willing to return the favor
- Keep your network up to date: we often get siloed in our work so connect with and include professionals from different companies, industries and areas of interest who have a fresh perspective and can connect you to new groups
- Diversify your advisors: choose people who are not like you, with whom you may not be comfortable. You don't necessarily need to like them but you should respect them for what they have to offer you and value their honest opinion and feedback
Share your goals, aspirations and successes - but also your concerns, fears and failures. Your "Success Team" can be the difference between an average career and a great career; they can help you celebrate the good times and push you through the difficult periods - and they can help you believe in yourself.
And don' forget to reciprocate (and be humbled) when someone asks YOU to join their success team.
