5 Ways to Boost Your Career

Ever notice how some people just seem to always get the timely promotions and the plum assignments, while others don't? People who succeed in their careers typically focus on a few areas that get noticed by senior management and these pave the way for frequent raises and promotions.

So what are the "career boosters"?


Delivering Consistent Results: Always strive for significant results in every position you are in. The more you are able to demonstrate measurable results, the more you will enhance your ability to be noticed and in line for a promotion. As recruiters, we are always looking for people who have been able to generate results in whatever position they have been assigned. And the sooner they make the impact, the better. An SVP of Marketing at a Fortune 500 company figured out a way to get an early "win" when she started out at the company. That made her their golden girl because she started in the position so strongly.

Making Smart Decisions: Business people who know how to make smart, well thought out decisions are valued in any organization. Senior management loves to see someone who can walk into their office or a major meeting and present a solid rationale for doing something. Doing the right thing at the right time is what makes for leaders.

Providing Strong Leadership: Every organization values a leader who can set a vision, a strategy and rally people around wanting to accomplish that goal. A COO at a leading company attributes his rapid rise through the ranks to his ability to lead people. His career skyrocketed at Universal Studios not just because he was an expert is certain areas, but because he knew how to motivate people to deliver results. Because of that, even though he was a marketer, he was put in charge of operations, sales and IT. He later left Universal to become a COO.

Working Collaboratively: This is the yin and the yang. Take a stand on your position while also considering other people's points of view. It's important for people to feel heard and usually collaboration results in the best decision. So much of what you do is done through other people that you want to keep them motivated to work on your projects.

Prudent risk-taking: Organizations move ahead by taking prudent risks. Any new product introduction or change in corporate strategy involves some risk. To advance your career, you need to be seen as someone who knows what needs to be done to take the organization to the next level and can assess the risks involved to all stakeholders affected by the decision. Careful analysis of the probability of gain and the severity of loss - including real attention to the human cost - is key.


If you can consistently incorporate these elements into how you approach each position, you will distinguish yourself from the competition and provide a boost to your career.

Fred & Gladys
Whelan Stone
Executive Search and Coaching
Authors of GOAL! Your 30 Day Career Plan for Business & Career Success

Is It Time To Hire an Executive Coach?

People turn to executive coaches for a variety of reasons. Sure, if you're in a jam, an executive coach can help, but they're not only for crisis situations. Now, more than ever, people are hiring executive coaches to help increase their competitive edge.

While mentors and bosses can help, they're not always as objective as you need them to be and you may not be comfortable opening up to them. Also they are not usually able to dedicate a significant amount of time to your situation.

Whatever your reason for considering a coach, they can add value in a number of ways.




Raise Your Game - Whether you want to position yourself for promotion, increase your industry knowledge or be more effective in your job, an executive coach can help you get there. Increasing your competitive edge is key to long-term career success. Whomever you hire should be able to teach you best practices in the areas that are most important to you (e.g., negotiations, leadership, execution, etc.).

Putting Out a Fire - When you have a flat tire you need to fix it right away not 20 miles down the road. If you're on a performance plan with a short time frame, a coach can be a tremendous asset. The coach should develop an action plan to aggressively address each of the areas you need to improve. Measurement is critical, so make sure you hire a coach who will hold you accountable.

Transitioning To Something New - Perhaps you've reach that point in your career when you know you need to do something different but are not sure what. A good executive coach can help identify those things which you enjoy and are good at. S/he can then help you leverage those into a new, more fulfilling career. Once you have identified what it is you want to do, you and your coach should create a career plan with specific actions to move you in that direction.

Increase Job Satisfaction - We can all be happier in our current jobs. An executive coach can help you identify those components of your job which you enjoy most and help you focus more on those areas. Similarly, you can take the areas you don't like and work with your coach to reframe them.

Improve Your Relationships - Most people work in an environment where they are dependant on others to get their jobs done. Given this, having good working relationships can make you more productive. An executive coach can help you strengthen those important relationships, identifying opportunities for you to bond with co-workers in genuine and productive ways.


Hiring an executive coach is a smart thing to do. Not only will they help you raise your performance level, they can give you invaluable perspective on your situation. Executive coaches counsel hundreds of people in a myriad of industries and that perspective can yield significant benefits.

Fred & Gladys
Whelan Stone
Executive Search and Coaching
Authors of GOAL! Your 30 Day Career Plan for Business & Career Success