Are You Part of the Future or Have You Put Your Career on Autopilot?

“If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven’t done much today.” This statement—part of legendary college basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski’s motivational talk to his Duke University Blue Devils players to keep them from becoming complacent—applies equally to millions of people in the workforce.

When you feel comfortable and put your career on autopilot, you are at risk. If you don’t know where you’re going or can’t see how that aligns with your company’s goals, you are navigating dangerous waters.

Avoid falling into this trap—set aside time immediately to plan your development and take control. Meanwhile, your company is continuously enhancing its talent pool and adding new skills. Where do you stand in this pool? Are you part of the future?

How can you tell if you’ve become complacent? If you get up in the morning and don’t immediately feel motivated to go to work, putting in only the minimum effort and hoping to stay off the radar, you’ve likely fallen into complacency.

Returning to the sports analogy—what happens when teams or individuals play it safe, leaning back and hoping not to lose instead of getting on the field to win? They lose. The same holds true for your career.

If you avoid stepping out of your comfort zone and taking risks, by the time you retire, you won’t just have a list of regrets—you’ll also have missed many exciting (and potentially more lucrative) opportunities.

If you’re a seasoned professional, why bother? Because what truly motivates you is also what will bring you the greatest satisfaction—and that’s far more important than salary alone.

Don’t get too comfortable in your current role. New challenges and projects that test your skills will make you stronger and increase the value you bring to your organization.

Here are six things you can do to take control of your career:

1. Know your strengths. Your interests, talents, and skills—what makes you unique?

2. Know your reputation. Talk to colleagues and people in your network to gain an objective perspective on your performance.

3. Know your environment. Research what new skills are needed in your role within your industry.

4. Set goals. Now that you know your options, set short- and long-term development goals aligned with your company’s needs.

5. Create an action plan and build skills. Accelerate your learning with a development plan. Have regular career conversations with your manager and leverage the growth resources available in your company.

6. Find a mentor. Connect with someone you admire who has made an impact—inside or outside your company. Ask them about the lessons they’ve learned. Seek guidance and listen to their advice. A mentor can also be a great networking resource.

   
   

When you reflect on your life, you’ll find that the best things didn’t happen when you sat back and did nothing—they happened when you had the courage to step out of your comfort zone and take action.

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