1. Executive Goal Setting: Set Yourself
Apart
Executive goal setting plays an integral part in career growth. This is especially true if
you take a manager job or a director job. New Year’s resolutions are familiar ones.
Eating more healthful foods, saving up, you know the drill. Reach higher and create
goals that will empower you and your staff.
Take on new projects. Start by going out of your comfort zone. Identify new areas where
you can learn something new, giving you a more diversified skill set.
Evaluate last year’s performance. Consider everything – from your whole staff’s
performance to your individual contributions as the leader. Get more specific by looking
at figures, and take it higher by adding 20 percent to this year’s goal.
Build your network. The adage “no man is an island” cannot be more true in the
executive platform. The number of people you know in your network or industry is
directly proportionate to the strength of your safety net and to the number of
opportunities you can take.
Study. Prepare for the future by enrolling in a new course. This will qualify you for
upcoming jobs.
Aim for promotion. Do not simply perform. Be clear about your goal and let your boss
know about it. This is a more proactive way of tackling the career ladder, instead of
simply waiting for your accomplishments to get rewarded.
Get published. The Internet is the most powerful resource today. Get your name in the
Web search results by contributing to online journals and magazines. You may also
create your own blog and make it a helpful resource for people in the industry. This lets
you create a brand for yourself, one which would open doors of opportunities for you.
Transfer. As you build your network, conduct your own job search to look for
organizations, industries or even locations which you may transfer to. Change will
challenge you and will teach you lessons.

2. Teach and train. Mentor your staff to facilitate two-way learning. Ask for their ideas.
Earn a good reputation as a leader by taking the time to train newcomers. You will see
the rewards as you continue to help others.
Renegotiate your compensation package. If throughout the year you have taken in
additional roles and responsibilities, or you have achieved more than what was
expected of you, negotiate your salary.
Build your brand. You know what you are capable of doing. Evaluate your unique value
to the company and harness that to assert yourself in the organization. This will solidify
your position and will further make you indispensable to your company and more
attractive to other organizations.
Have a life. Work-life balance brings more motivation. A demanding manager job will
only stress you out more if you let your career take over your personal life.
Executive goals require commitment and discipline. As long as you are passionate
about your job, you will no other way to go but up in the career ladder.