Upcoming professionals are desperate to succeedwith research showing that some young workers even expect to be promoted after just one year of work.
If you could go back to the beginning of your career, what advice would you give yourself? Six business leaders go back in time — and offer important lessons for all professionals.
1. Make sure you have a work-life balance
Clare Lansley, CIO at Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One, says she would tell herself at a young age that there’s nothing wrong with taking her foot off the accelerator a little.
“I don’t know if I’ll change much in terms of career path, but maybe I’ll deal with work-life balance. I worked hard as a senior. For the first 10 years, work is almost always first – and you don’t have to,” she says.
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Lansley says professionals should aim for a good work-life balance while they work their way up the career ladder.
“When you’re working on something that really motivates you and you just want to get it done, you might decide that you’re going to give up your weekend to do it. But that’s not like you’re being bullied. forced to do it. I think sometimes you need to give yourself a break.”
2. Move around different business functions
Marc Jennings, CIO of analytics and AI at TUI, will encourage others to move into different parts of the business and try out different roles.
“I’m lucky enough to be able to do that, so I would encourage it. TUI has been great – and it still is – at putting people in jobs that are good for them.”
Jennings has spent two decades with the holiday company. He says professionals who stick with a business should make sure they’re always on the lookout for new challenges.
“Don’t just sit around forever doing one job,” he said. “Consciously move and gain experience across different parts of the business, different technologies, different leadership styles — it makes you a better and global person. more present. And then, wherever you end up in your career, you’ll do better.”
3. Try and find satisfaction in the moment
Trustpilot CISO Stu Hirst has reached the pinnacle of the security profession but says it’s important to make sure you don’t push too hard, too fast.
“I spent years always looking for the next stage and the next level that I could reach,” he said. “I think maybe I’ll spend a little more time and try to find a little more satisfaction in the moment.”
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Hirst looks back at the early stages of his career and says young professionals should try and enjoy the ride rather than obsess over the promotion.
“I’ve probably spent five or six years fighting hard trying to get to the level I thought I wanted to be. Anyway, I’d like to think it’s going to happen naturally, but I do. I don’t know if I’d enjoy it or not.” as many roles as I could if I was a little more satisfied and willing to play the game a little longer.”
4. Don’t be afraid to spin the wheel
On his way to operating data systems for one of the UK’s largest retailers, Barry Panayi, director of data and insights at the John Lewis Partnership, has worked across multiple industries, companies and different functions. Not all of these moves are correct — and he would have had strong advice for himself at a young age.
“I think the term used now to describe my personal path is ‘career scribble.’ If something comes up and it’s interesting, I’ll do it. Mostly, I’m very excited. If I had thought about it more, I might have avoided those painful bites.”
Still, Panayi said even the worst parts of the road provide useful lessons, so he advises other experts to think carefully about tough times and take risks.
“I think if you like variety, you don’t always get it right. I would always keep spinning the wheel instead of playing it safe. I really don’t see any benefit in playing it safe.”
5. Go beyond your current thinking
Lisa Heneghan, global chief digital officer at consulting firm KPMG, says she would tell herself when she was younger to not be constrained by what you know today.
“When I was 21 or even 30 years old, I never dreamed of what I could do,” she said. “And it’s only when someone sees in me the potential to do more and challenges me that I allow myself to be pushed out of my comfort zone. And that’s the best thing.”
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Heneghan encourages young professionals to be open to the opportunities and challenges they find. Having good people around you to give you trustworthy advice is a key ingredient to success.
“When I made the decision, I thought ‘what would I tell my daughter, what would I advise them to do?’ Because sometimes I think we make decisions without thinking through our options. We limit ourselves and I encourage young people to be open to differences. It’s a very good mindset to have.”
6. Learn from everyone, even bad managers
Ed Higgs, group director of shared IT services at Rentokil Initial, says — aside from getting into IT recruiting at the start of his career, which he doesn’t like — he’s mostly stuck on the road. the career she chose, even if times were tough.
“I’ve learned a lot from people who’ve managed me badly. It’s those experiences that have helped me form more good managers, because good managers don’t stand out until later. this, when you realize you’ve moved and grown,” he said.
“Bad managers stand out simply because they’re bad managers. So I learned a lot from those people. And when you go on and get promoted — and you think ‘ How did I do that?’ — that’s when you realize how good other managers are.”
