Navigating Your Path: Growing Within Your Organization

How do you build a career path when the possible paths aren’t clearly defined? You’ll need to find that path unless you plan to stay in one position until retirement. Our paths are like our performance – ultimately up to us. 

It is all too easy to get lost in the day-to-day and put off building a solid path for yourself – unless you’re that person that grew up exclusively eyeing the corner office.  

Your human resources or people teams may talk paths forward, but they likely don’t have the bandwidth to ensure yours is charted. It is your responsibility to take the lead, showcase your value, and actively seek out opportunities.  

Is your life your fault? 

Early in my career, I worked with an experienced leader who often repeated a mantra. It was, “Your life is your fault.” At first, I found it quite off-putting.  

As time passed, that mantra struck me as deeply true. Picture this. You’re on a playing field. Everyone arrives fully qualified and equally eager to contribute. In this scenario, what differentiates those who are promoted from those that aren’t? The difference is how they navigate their organizations and the industry.

Know your environment, your organization, your industry, and yourself.

There are three approaches that can make your success your accomplishment.

Step 1. Know the organization.

Dive deep into the company culture. You’ll need to understand what drives success, need to identify key leaders, and learn to navigate the subtle dynamics of internal politics. This trove of knowledge is often just a click away – think company websites, internal reports, or good old-fashioned chats with colleagues.  

You’ll find that knowing the “rules of the game” lays the groundwork for your growth strategy. It will help separate you from those that let the “game” happen to them. 

Step 2: Know the industry. 

After focusing on how colleagues find success inside the organization, learn how the organization finds success in its peer group.  

What’s the competitive landscape look like? Who are the major players, and what trends are emerging? While it can be tricky to gather this information, seek out industry-specific publications, engaging podcasts, or a few focused internet searches. A keen understanding can make compelling conversations with senior leaders much easier when the opportunity arises. 

It sounds simple, right? Yet, staying informed demands intentional effort. I frequently rely on podcasts and newsletters to keep my finger on the pulse of what's happening in my field. You’ll only catch people’s attention with anecdotes that are current and relevant. It takes effort to stay informed. 

Step 3: Know yourself. 

Now, this may seem entirely too obvious, but self-awareness is absolutely under-appreciated.  

What are your strengths? How can you leverage them? What areas could use some work? Understanding yourself is the bedrock of any impactful career strategy. A self-aware, positive mindset can unlock untapped potential, and mastering these three elements forms the foundation for your ongoing growth in your role. 

Seizing opportunities doesn’t mean waiting.  

Sometimes you must create opportunities to shine. Sometimes you need to prepare to avoid opportunities where your reputation is dulled.  

I vividly remember one instance my lack of preparation put me in a situation that made looking prepared, knowledgeable, and confident much more difficult. 

In a critical transition period of my career, a meeting had come up at the central campus and the opportunity to be included with this group of colleagues was infrequent. It was an opportunity to show my skill and solutions. I prepared to arrive 15 minutes ahead, but it wasn’t enough. If I’d asked around, I might have known it was going to be hard to find parking.  

By the time I walked into the room, I was late. The meeting had already begun, so I walked into 20-30 colleagues who had an opportunity to form an impression of me – one that wasn’t my strongest showing. The only seat available was not by the door, and as I scanned the room, it hit me. I was not only late, not only not seated at the table, but I was the only woman of color in the room. I was avoidably uncomfortable and quickly losing my opportunity.  

As the meeting continued, I felt out of my depth. I felt it hard to get a word in. It was a lesson. I could control my subject matter knowledge. I could control the work product I brought to the meeting. I vowed never to let a lack of preparation catch me off guard and diminish my chances of showing up well. 

Don’t let someone else decide your career path without you.  

After the meeting, a senior leader approached me as I waited for the elevator. He quickly introduced himself, asked me my name, and put out his hand for a handshake. Obviously, I knew who he was. I could have easily fumbled my reply, but this was an opportunity to make a confident and direct introduction. I wasn’t going to let this chance slip away, and I took it. But I quickly collected myself and made a confident introduction. What I didn’t know was that conversations were being had and I was at the center of some positive narratives. This served as a powerful reminder. There were people saying my name in rooms without me, and it was up to me to ensure what they said about me matched the vision I had for myself. Otherwise, they might decide my career path for me.  

With some time, that senior leader and others became supporters, mentors, and ultimately sponsors. I didn’t lose my opportunity being late to that meeting. I built my reputation by delivering results and solving the challenges that others shied away from.  

Identify the strengths and opportunities you can uniquely bring to the table.    

Leadership isn't for the faint of heart; it can often feel isolating.  

Consider that as an opportunity as you build a reputation of solving problems and being invaluable. Consider that many senior leaders only have access to a filtered version of what’s going on. You’ll have a wider view of the reality that they need access to. 

To take advantage of that need, I built a reputation for being a truth-teller – a reliable source of honest feedback. Leaders yearn for that. In fact, in a successful corporate career leading teams as a vice president and serving the CEO as chief of staff, I was the person seeking out truth-tellers. 

Remember that your life, and your career, is your fault. That is, your purpose-set path will make you ready for the opportunities you align yourself for. Embrace this journey and navigate it with purpose.