6 Career Development Tips That Drive Professional Growth

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If you’re a leader who’s too busy managing your team to focus on your own career development, you’re not alone. These 6 practical career development tips will help you focus on your role, build new skills, and keep your work exciting.

Quick Tip: Schedule Time to Get Started

Schedule 30 minutes now to review the following strategies. What else might you add to these strategies? For example, who could you work with as a thought partner, mentor, or coach to help you stay on track with your plans?

1️⃣ Define Your Career Destination (a.k.a. Career GPS Mode)

Ask yourself: Do I want to make people’s lives better? Shake up the industry? Lead a bigger team? Get curious about the skills you’d need for that impact. This isn’t about plotting your entire career highway — just pick your next exciting stop. Bonus points for talking to people who are already doing work you admire.

2️⃣ Write a Clear Career Development Plan

Turn “someday” into “on my calendar.” Write down your from → to statement:

From regional manager → to director
From there, map out your pit stops — like leading a cross-team project, cross-training with another office, or speaking at an industry conference.

3️⃣ Have That Talk with Your Boss (and Make It Chill)

Instead of nervously hinting at your ambitions, invite your manager into the conversation with zero pressure:

“In our next 1-on-1, I’d love your input on my development ideas and how I can bring more impact.”
Come with ideas, not just questions, and be ready to align on skills, milestones, and what “success” actually looks like.

4️⃣ Become a Feedback Magnet (Without Fishing for Compliments)

Don’t just ask, “How am I doing?” — that’s a one-way ticket to “Fine!” city. Be specific:

A male employee getting feedback from his female boss.

“What’s missing in my presentation’s data visualization?”
“How could I have handled that tense meeting better?”
Document what you hear, spot patterns, and keep refining.

5️⃣ Schedule Regular Career Progress Check-Ins

Life gets busy, and suddenly it’s been six months since you last talked about your growth. Avoid the career cobwebs by booking regular check-ins with your manager. Show progress, ask about shifting company needs, and agree on next steps — for both of you.

Bottom line: Your career isn’t a bus you wait to board — it’s a car you get to drive. Pick your route, tune the engine, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride.

You might consider taking a course with FranklinCovey Academy to accelerate your professional growth. These courses help you build new mindsets and skills that enhance your performance and advance your career. Leaders around the world turn to FranklinCovey for proven leadership and career development programs—and now you can experience the same learning at your own pace.

Plus, you’ll receive personalized support from a coach who will guide your learning, help you apply new concepts, and keep you on track to successfully complete your course.