Consider three of my clients: Nathan is the community manager for an up-and-coming brand’s online presence, Emily develops apps for a popular mobile platform, and Megan works for a large regional manufacturer that’s been run by the same family for generations.
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And they all have the same problem. Nathan, Emily, and Megan are all great at what they do, but don’t have a clear path for getting promoted to bigger and better things.
Many positions in the tech, startup, social media, and small business ecosystems defy the traditional rules of moving up the ladder. Just think: What’s the next step after developing those apps or managing those online communities? How do you move up in a family-owned business? In many cases, there simply isn’t a defined logical next step.
It’s a challenge many employees face today. Research shows that less than 50% of employees see viable advancement opportunities with their current employers.
On top of that, only about a third of managers effectively discuss career development during the performance management process.
The bottom line? If you want a viable future at your company, you’d better get ready to take the situation into your own hands. That means sitting down with your manager to have the big “where is this relationship going?” conversation. And when you do, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
It’s your career. There’s no one more invested in your future than you. Waiting for your manager to enlighten you with his or her version of your ideal next step is not a strategy.
Instead, own up to the fact that neither your organization nor your manager is in charge of your next step. You are.
Think about where you perform well and how that can position yourself to be successful in your next role. Document your key accomplishments and reflect on the specific results you’ve achieved for the organization.
Once you’ve collected your supporting materials, ask for a meeting with your manager to discuss your future. Treat it like a strategic business meeting—because it is!
Having clear career goals and aspirations is important for professional growth and development. However, it can sometimes be intimidating to discuss these goals with your manager. Approaching the conversation strategically and preparing adequately can help ensure a productive discussion. Here are some tips on how to talk about your career goals with your boss:
Do Your Homework
Take some time to reflect on your career ambitions and identify your short and long-term goals. Consider what motivates you, your strengths and interests, and where you see yourself in the future. Make sure your goals align with the company’s objectives and culture as well. Bring concrete examples of projects or responsibilities that can help you gain relevant skills. Having clarity around your aspirations makes it easier to articulate them.
Schedule a Separate Meeting
Don’t spring the conversation on your manager unexpectedly Request time on their calendar specifically for this discussion This shows you value their input and want to give the conversation proper attention, A 30 minute meeting should suffice, Having a set time also allows you both to prepare,
Pick the Right Setting
Opt for a private setting like a conference room and avoid common areas like the cafeteria This creates a space conducive to an open and focused discussion without distractions Also, avoid virtual settings which make it harder to build rapport. Meet in person if possible.
Come Prepared
Bring a list of discussion points and questions to the meeting. This helps you remember key points and gives the conversation structure. potential questions:
- What skills do you think I need to develop to achieve my goals?
- How can I get exposure to projects that align with my interests?
- Are there training or mentorship opportunities that can help me grow?
Jot down your manager’s advice as well so you can refer back to it later,
Start with Your Development Plan
Briefly summarize your short and long-term career goals and share your ideas on developmental opportunities that can help you work towards them. Get agreement that your aspirations align with company needs. This context sets the stage for a constructive discussion.
Be a Good Listener
Don’t just talk at your manager – have an authentic dialogue. Be open and attentive to their perspective and guidance. Ask clarifying questions if needed. Listening helps you gain insights on how to further refine your goals.
Solicit Specific Feedback
Ask your manager what competencies or experiences they feel would be beneficial for you to develop. Get their input on projects or roles that can expand your skills. Specific feedback gives you tangible areas to work on.
Discuss Next Steps
Before wrapping up, outline actionable next steps based on the discussion. Perhaps your manager recommends a particular training program. Agree on timelines for subsequent check-ins to review progress. Next steps keep you accountable.
Express Appreciation
Thank your manager for their time and guidance. Acknowledge that their support is important in helping you achieve your professional aspirations. The discussion is the starting point of an ongoing partnership.
Follow Up
Send a recap email after the meeting outlining the key points covered and next steps. Attach a revised development plan if needed. This shows you valued the discussion and helps keep you both on the same page.
How to Align Your Goals with The Company’s Objectives
Gaining your manager’s support for your career aspirations often requires showing how your goals align with and help advance the company’s strategic priorities. When aspirations complement organizational needs, it strengthens the case for investing in your development. Here are some tips on aligning your goals:
Understand The Company Strategy
Review company materials and talk to your manager to gain insight on high-level strategic objectives, growth areas, values and mission. This context allows you to see how your function and role ladders up to delivering on business imperatives.
Identify Common Themes
Look for common skills, knowledge or values highlighted both in the company strategy and your own goals. For example, if the company wants to expand in a new market and you want to build global expertise, there is clear alignment. Find tangible connections.
Ask About Priority Projects
Managers often know about upcoming projects or growth areas that will get significant resources and attention. Tailor your goals around skills needed to contribute to these sorts of high-visibility initiatives.
Communicate The Benefits
Explain specifically how your development will positively impact the organization. For example, note how improving your digital marketing skills will allow you to help drive an important sales initiative. Make the case for how enabling your goals drives shareholder value.
Use Company Competencies
Most companies define a set of core competencies. Reference these when crafting your goals. For instance if collaboration is a big focus, ensure your goals reflect desire to improve teamwork capabilities.
Focus on Problem Solving
Think about current organizational challenges and how gaining additional capabilities can empower you to help address them. Let your manager know you want to be part of implementing solutions.
Track Record of Delivery
Provide examples of how you’ve successfully executed on company objectives in the past. Highlight how your experience and insights position you to continue driving results.
Aligning your aspirations with the company’s needs clearly demonstrates your goals support the broader mission. This also leads to more fulfilling roles that utilize your expanded capabilities. Making the connections is key to gaining alignment.
Think Short and Long-Term for Your Career Goals
A common mistake is to only focus on long-term, aspirational career goals without developing incremental objectives that build capabilities needed for future roles. Crafting goals across multiple time horizons ensures continued growth and advancement.
Near-Term Goals
These are objectives for the next 6-12 months focused on developing your skills. Examples include:
- Completing skill-building online courses
- Job shadowing colleagues in other functions
- Taking on small stretch assignments to gain experience
Having near-term development areas allows you to make tangible progress.
Mid-Term Goals
These 1-3 year goals aim to position you for promotion to the next level by expanding your responsibilities. Examples include:
- Leading a small project team
- Owning a particular business process or region
- Joining internal mobility programs that offer rotations
Mid-term goals give you something significant to work towards.
Long-Term Goals
These are 5+ year goals focused on reaching leadership roles. They should align with your passions and interests. Examples include:
- Moving from technical to people manager
- Managing a business unit or large program
- Achieving a senior-level position like Director
Long-term goals are aspirational anchor points that guide your career journey.
Across All Horizons
- Identify skills needed for future roles
- Understand required experiences and milestones
- Gain exposure to different parts of the business
- Develop professional network through mentors
Having goals across timeframes ensures you continue developing, gaining knowledge, and taking on diverse assignments to position yourself for advancement. Discuss all horizons with your manager.
Ask Your Manager for Guidance on Areas of Improvement
While discussing career goals with your boss, also seek their perspective on areas for development. Their close vantage point allows them to provide candid feedback on blindspots you should address. Some questions to get valuable input:
- What skills or competencies do you think I need to build for the roles I’m interested in?
- In what areas could I improve my performance to show I’m ready for more responsibility?
- What feedback have you received about me from senior leaders or peers that I should work on?
Also ask for examples of situations where they observed gaps:
- Can you share a specific time when you felt I could have handled a task or interaction better?
- Are there instances where I should have taken a different approach to achieve our team’s goals?
- Are there certain types of assignments I’ve struggled with?
Other key areas to cover:
- Leadership capabilities – e.g. decision-making
- Interpersonal skills – e.g. communication style
- Technical proficiency – e.g. analytics, software skills
- Personal effectiveness – e.g. time management
Listen openly without getting defensive. Take notes and follow up on suggestions. This shows you value their developmental feedback and are committed to improvement.
Proactively seeking areas for growth demonstrates self-awareness and drive. It puts you in the best position to acquire well-rounded capabilities needed at the next level.
How to Prepare for a Discussion with Your Manager About Career Goals
Being adept at discussing your career aspirations starts with thorough preparation. Follow these best practices when getting ready to meet with your manager:
Reflect on Interests
Look inward to identify what kinds of roles truly energize you based on your passions, motivations and strengths. Avoid just chasing titles or mismatched opportunities.
Research Potential Paths
Leverage your network and company alumni to learn about directions that align with your interests. Be open to nonlinear career journeys.
Seek External Perspectives
Talk to mentors and colleagues about how they achieved career progression and the critical capabilities needed. Get insights on how to build these skills.
Align with Company Priorities
Take time to understand the business strategy and key priorities. Identify opportunities to tailor your goals to organizational objectives.
Craft a Development
Connect With Your Manager
Begin the meeting by looking at the situation through the lens of your manager. Get a sense for how invested he or she is in helping you.
Start with your purpose: “Jocelyn, I’d like to talk about what the next step in my career looks like. I’d really like it to be with this organization, but the next steps here aren’t completely clear to me.”
Review your accomplishments and reiterate your enthusiasm about working there: “I’ve been here two years and I’ve proven my ability to grow community traffic. It’s been a tremendous growth experience for me—and for the company. I’ve increased engagement by 65% and drove 20% more unique visitors to our website. I’ve met or exceeded my key performance indicators in each of these areas while developing strong relationships with our internal and external stakeholders.”
What happens next will give you an idea of how aligned your boss is with your performance. Listen for her feedback; if she’s supportive, it’s likely she’ll advocate for you.
Describe Your Personal Vision
Share with your manager where you see yourself in one, three, or five years. Even without specifics like job titles, have a general sense for where you’re headed. Do you want to manage people? Work with higher-profile clients?
Consider what skills you’d like to develop, what experiences you’d like to have, and what knowledge you’d like to acquire. Share how these things can help the organization solve its business problems.
How to Discuss Your Career Goals with your Boss
How do I talk to my boss about my career goals?
Use these steps to help you prepare to talk with your boss or supervisor about your career goals: 1. Prepare your information Think about the current job you do and your strengths in that role. Consider the transferrable skills that you could apply in other areas of your company.
How do you talk to your boss about your career trajectory?
Being confident in expressing the ways you add value to your team or the organization is how you advocate for yourself. When you are speaking with your boss about your career trajectory, point out your successes, knowledge and leadership abilities. Doing this respectfully reminds your boss about your strengths and competencies.
Should I talk to my manager about my career goals?
If one of your career goals is to earn more money, you may talk to your manager to see if that’s an option. Some situations that may influence your decision to make more money include paying off your student loans, buying a house or starting a family. Explain how your life and career goals intersect when speaking with your supervisor.
How do I achieve my career goals?
To achieve your goals, it’s likely that you’ll need to take certain steps to get there. This is a good time to explain what you plan to do. Talk to your boss about classes you plan to take, training you’d be interested in, and certificates or degrees you might be working toward.
