For those looking for that expert insight or extra bit of motivation, hiring a career coach is the latest craze. Enlisting a professional to help you navigate the ins and outs of the working world can be indispensable. But how about those who can’t justify the expense or simply can’t afford to fork over that type of cash yet? The good news is, with a bit of discipline and direction, you can push yourself as your own career coach — no matter what stage of the professional journey you’re on.
[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]
Take Stock of Where You Are
Just like in sports, a good career coach can help you devise a game plan to succeed during those big, pivotal moments — such as joining a new company, adjusting to a new industry, trying to break through to a leadership role and more. But chances are you’ve got a pretty good idea of how you’re doing so far, and where you want to land in the coming months, years and even decades.
To get at exactly what you want to achieve, ask yourself these questions: What are my specific goals? What is my time frame to attain those goals? What else needs to happen for me to feel professionally fulfilled?
Think deeply about how your answers align with your current trajectory — as well as the potential pitfalls or sticky points — and map out what you need to do in order to feel happy with your career situation and life.
Figure Out How You Learn
Before you can take the field, you’ve got to learn the playbook in order to execute your strategies. Not everyone is created equal — some players learn best through watching film, some prefer reading the scouting report and others want to actively run plays themselves.
You may not be an athlete, but the same holds true for your own career. Identifying how you learn best can be an invaluable boon to your professional progression and guide you in determining the best strategies for yourself. Visual or auditory learners may want to expand their knowledge with books or TED talks, whereas team-based learners might want to create or find a peer group to join.
[See: Famous CEOs and Executives Share Their Best Career Advice.]
Establish a “Board of Directors”
Everyone needs a group of confidantes that they can go to when pressed with a major decision or issue. Professional athletes have their entourage filled with family, friends and agents. And you should have something similar: a “Board of Directors,” if you will.
These are the people who truly know you, a group of close advisors to engage with when thinking about a major career decision or job problem. The board can be made up of your parents, childhood friends, college or work mentors, former colleagues and more. But they’re all people you can go to who will give you a gut check when you need it most.
Seek Feedback
What do the best-of-the-best athletes do after a big loss? Sit down with the coaches to find out exactly what broke down, why it didn’t work and how to fix that for next time. Just because you don’t have a professional coach doesn’t mean you don’t have mentors to look to for proactive feedback — and you certainly don’t need to wait until you’re losing to ask.
These can be part of your Board of Directors, or simply peers at your company, within your network or throughout your industry. A candid assessment of your performance can be invaluable insight, and open your mind to things you may have not thought about before. Engage with those closest to you professionally — colleagues, supervisors, managers or human resources for the most direct and candid evaluation. Who knows, they may even see your ambition for improvement as a potential positive down the road.
[See: The 25 Highest-Paying Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree.]
Hold Yourself Accountable
The most important part of any game plan or regimen is tracking your progress. It can be helpful to keep a journal or leave little reminders like Post-it notes on a monitor that remind you to slow down, listen or ask more questions.
Also, check in with yourself monthly to make sure you’re still on your desired path. You might find that you’re on track, but over time the goalposts have moved. That could mean you need to adjust your strategy to hit the new targets.
Even as a workplace veteran, you may find that being your own career coach is a daunting task. But with the right game plan, motivation and a little bit of finesse — you’ll be well on your way to a hot streak when it comes to your career and life ambitions.
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How to Be Your Own Career Coach originally appeared on usnews.com
