Asking a lifelong manager how to stay at the top of your career?
For many, a management position is the highest career point and aspiration. However, it is not uncommon to find that, once there, one's career reaches a certain stagnation, or even a downward curve in one's professional life. Remaining a coveted corporate manager for years on end can be a daunting task. What can help you achieve this?
Adaptability is key
First of all, it should be borne in mind that the stability and sustainability of a manager’s career also depends on the situation in the sector. The banking sector is a prime example of this today. As the sector shrinks, closes down or relocates, some managers in this field have to look for new career opportunities. Some of them find them in companies in the financial technology sector, while others make more radical career changes. Flexibility and adaptability are therefore one of the most important qualities for a manager’s long-term career.
However, moving between sectors may not be so easy. This is especially true when migrating between very different types of sectors – for example, manufacturing and trade or services. The specific nature of these sectors means that managerial transitions between them are quite rare. It is of course much easier to change positions within the same sector.
It is essential to find time for personal development.
However, there are managers who find it easier to find new jobs in different areas of the business. For example, sales managers. In addition, many companies today highly value professionals with strong competences in strategic planning, business development and global awareness. Many companies in a wide range of fields are willing to offer them jobs. It is therefore a good idea for managers to develop these competences, as they can be the key to a successful and long-lasting career.
Of course, like all professionals, managers need to take time for personal development and learning. The problem is that many managers neglect this aspect due to busyness and lack of time. However, one should try to schedule time in such a way that there is time for learning – another mark of a good manager. Moreover, it is not enough to devote a day or two a year to training or to attend a few conferences. The effort to improve and develop one’s competences must be continuous. There are certainly opportunities to do this today, from a wide range of specific literature to courses for managers and university study programmes.
Planning is the key to a successful career
Another important aspect of working in a management role for a number of years is career planning. This means that all career-related decisions need to be well thought out. One should always ask oneself certain questions: is it really worth associating oneself with a company that has a reputation in society? Is it worth sacrificing growth opportunities for short-term financial gain? If there is one quality that every manager should have, it is the ability to see the bigger picture and not lose sight of the long-term perspective. This is also very important when planning your career.
One example of poor career planning is when hiring managers simply stay too long in one job or position and, for whatever reason, find it difficult to find a new job once they leave. Such managers are often referred to in the market as ‘unshakeable’. Their extreme professional sedentariness causes them to lose the market’s interest and can make it quite difficult to regain it later.
Stagnation is not good for any professional, so even if you are working in the same company, you should be looking for new challenges and more ambitious goals. Otherwise, one simply stops improving, gets stuck in one’s comfort zone and loses motivation. However, most of today’s managers are focused on achievement and growth, which is why it is increasingly rare to find managers who value security and stability over challenges.
Sometimes a break is useful.
Of course, hunger for challenge does not mean that you should change jobs or positions every six months. Career cycles for managers tend to be longer than for other professionals – 5-7 years on average. That is how long it takes managers to change jobs. This cyclical nature is in many cases beneficial for managers, as it allows them to fully realise their potential and achieve the goals set at each stage, while at the same time opening up new opportunities and horizons.
And there should be no fear of career breaks. Often, professionals believe that taking a career break will make it more difficult to successfully re-enter the management market. However, in most cases this is not a problem. On the contrary, managers who have taken creative and professional breaks are often even more highly regarded. Taking some time away from active work can give you new energy and ideas and help you to move on to the next stage of your career.
Staying at the top of your career, reaching your full potential at every stage of your career, can be even more challenging than getting to the desired position. In a career, just like in a sporting competition, it can be hard to win a title, but it is even harder to keep it. However, if you pay enough attention to your career, it is certainly possible.
