What Your Boss Wants You to Know to Accelerate Career.

I recently sat down with Lee Wilburn, Regional Director for Casey’s. I have known Lee for five years and am a big fan of his leadership approach. When I first met Lee, he was a District Manager with 16 years of experience with two different retail companies. During our conversation, I asked Lee what he felt allowed him to go from being a District Manager, to Category Manager, to Regional Director in the last 5 years.

5 Tips to Accelerate Career

Find good leaders.

Lee's career took off when he started working with leaders who invested in his potential. They helped him develop new skills, see things from new perspectives, and explore new opportunities. Your growth as a leader will accelerate when you work for individuals that invest in your professional development. This can include the leaders you work for, sponsors, mentors, or coaches who push you to be the best version of yourself.

Be clear in your goals.

Lee set a clear goal for wanting to be a regional manager. He habitually communicated this goal to others and asked them what it would take to get there. Using this guidance, he devised a plan to build the skills and gain the experience he would need to qualify for regional manager positions. To accelerate your career growth, define the type of job that you want, and solicit the help of others in working toward your goal.

Build Emotional Intelligence.

Lee feels that improving his emotional intelligence has helped him to be a better leader. Early in his career, Lee says that he was not as versatile as a leader. His approach worked well with some employees but not all. As he has worked on listening better and being more empathic, he has found that he is able to connect with more employees, meet them where they are, and better inspire them to be the best version of themselves. Higher levels of leadership require you to influence a diverse group of stakeholders. Mastering emotional intelligence will level up your leadership ability allowing you to be effective with a broader range of people.

Take a calculated risk.

Relocating two times in the last 5 years has contributed to Lee’s quick advancement in his career. In hindsight, he thinks he might have been able to progress quicker in his career if he had been more willing to take risks earlier in his career. He did not express regret in his decisions because, as a father, he knows that progressing in his career is not his only goal. He also wants to provide the best environment for his family to thrive and grow. In advancing your career, you must balance new opportunities' rewards with the risk of failure and unintended consequences. Only by weighing the risk and rewards can you confidently take actions that align with your values.

Know when to exit.

Lee has worked for 3 different companies over the last 18 years. He feels he learned important lessons from each company. His final advice to emerging leaders is to follow their gut and seek new opportunities when they feel their learning is slowing down. To be the best version of yourself, you need challenging assignments, so continue to seek out career moves that will allow you to stretch yourself and grow.

Summary

Building a successful career requires you to be confident in your abilities, humble enough to learn from others, and open enough to build relationships with people that can make you better. The five tips Lee provided are great suggestions for any leader aspiring to grow their career. By defining career objectives, developing goals, and creating action plans, you can better position yourself to establish the skills, relationships, and experiences you need to achieve your professional goals.

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Thank you for reading this blog

Dorian Cunion is an Executive Coach and Business Consultant with Your Path Coaching and Consulting. He is a former retail executive with over 20 years of experience in the retail industry. He is a Co-Active coach who focuses on helping professionals and small business owners overcome insecurities, knowledge gaps, and lack of direction. He does this by assisting clients to tap into their values, recognize their strengths, and develop actionable strategies for growth.

Have you been trying to improve your career or business on your own but are not seeing success as fast as you desire?

Book a free discovery call to discuss your goals and how I can help you accelerate.

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Should I stay at my company following a layoff?

Your company just went through a layoff. The good news is that you were not let go. The bad news is that you are now concerned about your company's financial health. You also know that things will get more difficult in the near term. The work that was previously done by others will be reassigned. You will be asked to do more, and there is little chance of you getting incremental compensation despite the extra effort.

You are asking yourself, do I want to stay here? Part of you wants to be loyal to your company and peers, put your head down, and help to turn things around. Another part of you is scared if you will be next and wonders if this is the perfect time to seek employment elsewhere

.

Things to consider before leaving your company after a layoff

1. Do you enjoy your job?

This is the most critical factor to consider because if you don't like what you do, you will not perform at a high level. Think about what aspects of your job make you happy and what aspects make you frustrated or bored. If the positives outweigh the negatives, you might want to stay and see how things evolve. You might want to seek something more fulfilling if the negatives are too overwhelming.

2. Do you believe the company can turn things around?

Layoffs are usually a sign of financial trouble, but they can also be a strategic move to restructure and improve the company's performance. If you trust the leadership and vision of the company, and you see signs of recovery and growth, you might want to stick around and be part of the solution. If you doubt the company's future and direction and you see no evidence of improvement or innovation, you might want to jump ship before it sinks.

3. Will you have the potential to grow by staying?

Layoffs can create new opportunities for those who remain, such as taking on more responsibilities, learning new skills, or moving up the ladder. If you see a clear career development and advancement path within the company, you might want to stay and seize those opportunities. If you feel stuck or stagnant in your current role and have no prospects for growth or change, you might want to look for other options that can challenge and reward you.

Things to do after a layoff at your company

1. Journal about your feelings.

Writing down your thoughts and emotions can help you process what happened and cope with the change. It can also help you identify what you liked and disliked about your job, what you are learning, and what you want to avoid in the future. Journaling can also boost your self-esteem and confidence by reminding you of your strengths and achievements.

2. Define what you want from your career.

After your company lays off workers, you may feel tempted to accept job offers from other companies, but this may not be the best option for your long-term satisfaction and growth. Take some time to think about what you want from your career, such as the type of work, the industry, the culture, the values, the benefits, and the salary. Create a list of the top 10 things that are important to you, and evaluate how your current role is fulfilling your needs.

3. Define career options.

Once you have a clear idea of what you want from your career, you can start researching and evaluating different career options that match your criteria. You can use online resources such as job boards, company websites, industry blogs, or professional networks to learn more about the current trends, opportunities, and challenges in various fields. You can also contact people who work in careers that interest you and ask them for advice or feedback. This can help you determine if you would be better off staying or pursuing employment elsewhere.

Summary

Deciding whether to leave an organization after a layoff is a difficult decision. You have to evaluate your values, options, and long-term career plans. By taking time to explore your feelings about your

• company

• current job

and the knowledge you have of

• the economy

• your industry

• your long-term career goals

you can find the right answer to whether you should stay or leave. Every decision allows you to learn more about who you are and the world around you. If you stay centered on your values, use your strengths, and pursue your long-term goals, you will end up exactly where you are meant to be.

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Thank you for reading this blog

Dorian Cunion is an Executive Coach and Business Consultant with Your Path Coaching and Consulting. He is a former retail executive with over 20 years of experience in the retail industry. He is a Co-Active coach who focuses on helping professionals, and small business owners overcome insecurities, knowledge gaps, and lack of direction. He does this by assisting clients to tap into their values, recognize their strengths, and develop actionable strategies for growth.

Have you been trying to improve your career or business on your own but are not seeing success as fast as you desire?

Book a free discovery call to discuss your goals and how I can help you accelerate.

Talk with Dorian

Have Feedback Send me a note at

Email: dcunion@yourpathexecutivesolutions.com

For daily tips on leadership and professional development, follow me:

LinkedIn

Facebook