Three power moves to spring careers forward

Take a look outside. Spring is in full bloom. Have you ever thought about the incredible energy and life force it takes for a tiny seed to push its way up and through the earth to sprout new life? It takes a similar kind of effort if we want to grow and expand. 

Here are three energizing steps you can take this spring to breathe new life into your career.

Be giving. I am not talking about making donations or volunteering. This is about doing random acts of career kindness. Giving takes time and energy but it feels good to give without expecting anything in return. 

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Here are some ideas to consider. Drop a cool book in the mail to a colleague. I recently received a pound of locally roasted coffee from a fellow career counselor in Boulder. It was so fun and unexpected to find a bag of aromatic coffee beans in my mailbox. 

If you know and trust a small, growing company, leave a positive Google review. Write a handwritten thank-you note to someone and include a gift card to a local business that you want to support. Introduce two professional contacts that you think will click and encourage them to get to know one another.

Offer a glowing recommendation to someone on LinkedIn — without being asked. Go listen to a colleague speak and be a friendly, supportive presence in the audience. Notice and acknowledge people who are doing good work because even a simple compliment is a lovely gift to receive. 

The list is endless. Use your creativity and thoughtfulness. Think of it as career karma and trust that good vibes will come back to you. Small acts create ongoing ripples of expansion and growth.

Ask for help. In our society, we tend to value independence. So, we might think that asking for help would be seen as a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it can be a true power move to reach out and ask for help or guidance.

Take a gulp of courage and ask a trusted colleague to write a recommendation for you on LinkedIn. If you are in job search mode, request interview coaching or a resumé review from someone you know who has hired talent in the past.

Maybe you are looking for an introduction to a hiring manager at a particular company. Or, maybe you need advice as you consider opening a business or making a career change. If you know someone who can possibly assist, take a risk and ask for what you need.

Asking for help is the ultimate compliment because it signals that we value someone’s expertise and insight. When we ask for help, we are being vulnerable, which encourages important relationships to deepen and grow.

Change it up. If you keep doing the same things you are doing now, what will be different in three or six months? I hazard to guess that nothing much will change. In order to encourage growth, you actually have to do new things. Determine what you envision for yourself and then make the changes necessary to bring that vision to life.

Take stock of how you currently spend your time and commit to making each precious moment count. Change your habits and revamp your to-do list to ensure you are doing what matters most to you — at work and in your personal time.

Change and expand your professional and social circles. Re-fresh your resumé and breathe new life into your LinkedIn profile. Read a book that offers a unique perspective. Go someplace you have never been and soak in new sights and sounds.

By giving of yourself, asking for what you need, and changing how you spend your time, you can experience new growth — personally and professionally. Now is the perfect time to plant new seeds and spring your career forward.

Carrie Pinsky, LPC is a career counselor and job search coach in private practice at Pink Sky Career Counseling. Reach her at carrie@pink-sky.net or 970-225-0772.