5 Steps to Advance Your Career and Thrive in Leadership

With the right focus and strategy, you can position yourself for success and confidently move into your next role. Here’s how to do it:

1. Identify the Right Next Role

The first step in career advancement is clarity. Knowing exactly where you want to go makes the entire process easier. The right next step isn’t just about a job title—it’s about finding a role that fits your unique skills, excites you, and aligns with the lifestyle you want. When you have a clear target, you can pursue it with confidence and purpose.

2. Look Like the Perfect Candidate

Whether you’re aiming for a promotion or seeking a role at a new company, positioning yourself as the ideal candidate is key. This means ensuring that your resume, LinkedIn profile, and the way you talk about yourself all reflect someone who is already operating at that level. Confidence in your skills and experience should shine through in every interaction, making you the obvious choice when opportunities arise.

3. Master Authentic Networking

Many of the best career opportunities come through relationships rather than job boards. Building a strong network is crucial, but it’s not just about making connections—it’s about turning those conversations into real opportunities. Women are often socialized to be givers, which can make asking for support feel uncomfortable. However, when you learn how to ask authentically and strategically, you’ll find that doors start opening naturally.

4. Take the Essential Actions

Once you have a clear goal, your focus should be on the actions that will truly move you forward. This means cutting out distractions, avoiding unnecessary job search tasks, and not overworking to prove yourself. Instead, direct your energy toward high-impact activities that align with your career goals. This level of intentionality helps you stand out as a confident leader who is ready for the next step.

5. Thrive as a Leader Without Overworking

True leadership isn’t about working harder—it’s about leading with clarity, focus, and confidence. The best leaders know how to step out of the weeds, make strategic decisions, and maintain balance. When you cultivate this mindset, you not only protect your energy but also become the natural choice for higher-level leadership roles. The leaders who advance are the ones who already look and act like executives before they officially receive the title.

Take Action

Identify what steps you can take today, next week, and this month to move forward in your career—then commit to doing them. Small, consistent actions lead to big results over time.

A special thank you to Maya Sharfi for sharing these tips with us. To learn more about Maya’s work as a career coach or to connect with her, please visit her website: www.buildyourselfworkshop.com.

Maya also has a quiz available to help you find out what's between you and your next level role. Take the quiz here to get specific, actionable next steps to lock down your next role.

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