We can draw more than a few parallels between springtime and personal development. Maybe it’s the longer days, maybe it’s seeing everything come back to life again. Either way, it’s hard not to feel that little push to start fresh. Whether it’s a new start to your New Year’s Resolution or your career, this is a good time to put an extra spring in your step.
No matter if you’re an individual contributor strategizing your next career move or a leader developing your team, this is your reminder: Don’t wait for opportunities to bloom—plant them.
For Professionals: Fertilize Your Career
If you’ve been waiting for someone to notice your potential or hand you a plan, here’s the truth: it’s not coming. Not unless you ask for it. If you’re familiar with last month’s blog, you’ll know how to start giving yourself permission to speak up. Take a short detour here if you need to catch up.
Let’s make sure your growth is powerful rather than passive. Here’s how:
- Schedule a career conversation. This is different from a performance review. Find 30 minutes with your manager solely to talk about you. Map out what you’re going to talk about ahead of time. You can discuss your goals and aspirations, and your next chapter within the company. Don’t wait for year-end reviews to bring up what matters most.
- Be honest about what you want. Say it out loud: “I want to grow into a leadership role,” or “I want to pivot toward product management,” and don’t just say it to your direct supervisor. Reach out to people in those roles to show your interest and learn more about their position.
- Ask for a development project. Once you have a good idea of your goals and where you want to go, ask for something that helps build the skills to get there. Whether it’s helping out on a cross-functional team, taking an Orange Leaf Academy course, or analyzing a new market, development doesn’t always require a title change.
- Define your ideal role (even if it doesn’t exist yet). Write the job description for the role you want 6-12 months from now. Use LinkedIn to search for similar job titles to help gain focus on the specifications. What are you responsible for? What problems are you solving? What skills are you known for? Use this to guide conversations and decisions.
- Seek an advocate, not just a mentor. You need someone who believes in you and has influence. Ask them to be a vocal supporter for you, introduce you to new departments, or connect you with opportunities. You don’t need to do this alone.
For Leaders: Do More Than Manage Talent, Grow It
If you’re leading people, you’re responsible for shaping careers. And let’s be honest, if you’re not talking to your team about what’s next for them at the organization, someone else, somewhere else, eventually will.
This season, make growth part of the culture:
- Show that growth has more than one path. Not everyone wants to be a manager. Map out alternate routes such as expert tracks, strategic project leads, and rotational programs. Growth should feel possible for every type of talent.
- Normalize career conversations. When individuals want to talk about their careers, they don’t always want a promotion or raise. Keep an open mind about how you can help them get what they’re looking for. Make quarterly check-ins focused on where they want to grow, not just what they’ve delivered (or underdelivered).
- Share your story. Be open about your own journey. What zigzags did you take? What bets paid off? Your transparency builds trust and gives people permission to envision themselves in a higher position.
- Develop people before there’s an opening. Great leaders don’t wait for roles to open to start developing people. They see potential early, offer stretch assignments, and make sure their team is ready when the door opens.
- Celebrate movement. Whether it’s a promotion, a lateral shift, or a big stretch project, shine a light on it. Internal growth should be celebrated!
Growth Is Always in Season.
Spring reminds us what’s possible when we create the right conditions, and your career is no different. Whether you’re asking for more or building it for others, there is no better time than now.
Don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait for the stars to align. And don’t wait for someone else to do the work of advocating for your future.
Careers don’t just advance without putting in the work. Much like your garden, you have to focus and nurture it, and then you truly reap the benefits.
Grow Big or Go Home!®