3 Core qualities for growth in career

In today's fast-paced business world, career growth is a top priority for many professionals. Achieving success in your career requires more than just hard work and talent. It also requires good behaviour and intention.

Being good at your craft is the first step

Good work is the foundation of career growth. When you consistently produce high-quality work, you establish yourself as a valuable asset to your employer. You become known for your reliability, attention to detail, and ability to get things done. This can lead to new opportunities and increased responsibility.

To illustrate the importance of good work, let me share a story about a friend of mine. Milo (not a real name) was a junior designer at a marketing agency. She was diligent, and creative, and always met her deadlines. Her work was consistently praised by her supervisor, who recognized her potential and gave her more challenging projects. Over time, Sarah's responsibilities grew, and she was eventually promoted to a senior designer position. Her hard work and dedication paid off, and she was able to take her career to the next level.

Then, Comes the importance of behaviour.

Good behaviour is also crucial for career growth. How you interact with colleagues, clients, and superiors can have a significant impact on your professional reputation. Being respectful, empathetic, and collaborative can help you build strong relationships and earn the trust of others.

To demonstrate the importance of behaviour, let me tell you about my friend Tom (not his real name). Tom was a sales representative for an insurance company. He was known for his excellent communication skills and his ability to build rapport with clients. However, Tom had a tendency to be arrogant and dismissive of his colleagues. This behaviour caused friction in the office and led to a lack of trust from his co-workers. Despite his talent for sales, Tom was eventually let go from his job due to his behaviour. This story highlights the importance of not only doing good work but also being a good colleague and team player.

The true power of internal confidence comes from the intentions.

Intentions are the underlying motivations behind our actions. When we act with good intentions, we are more likely to achieve positive outcomes. We all are humans and people can sense when someone has good intentions, and this can help build trust and respect in the workplace.

To illustrate the power of intentions, let me share a story about a former colleague of mine when I was working in Africa. Naomi was an HR manager at the MNC. She was known for her attention to detail, the problems faced by the people and her ability to keep people’s solutions on priority. However, Naomi was also known for her genuine care and concern for staff. She made a point to check in with all staff regularly, offer support and encouragement, and ensure that everyone had the resources and support they needed to do their best work. This approach helped Naomi build strong relationships with all in the company and earn their loyalty and respect. She was the obvious choice to get promoted to a higher position and good pay in the company within a year.

I have also faced in my career the same kind of experience. Even though I was never 100% efficient in following all these three pillars, I believe achieving career growth requires a combination of good work, behaviour, and intentions. When we consistently produce high-quality work, treat others with respect, and act with good intentions, we create a positive professional reputation that can open doors to new opportunities and advancement.

So Be good at your craft, show supporting behaviour at work and keep the intention progressive for all; you will be on the top.

Have a great day.

Your Friend - Divyesh Dave