ON SELF IMPROVEMENT || Finding a Boss that Challenges You is Your Key to Career Growth

What’s the point of a job if you come in with one skill set and leave with the same skills? Your growth is stagnant.

A boss that challenges you to think and allows you to expand your skill set compared is trying to grow and stretch your potential. Do you grovel and complain about the hard work? Or do you take it in stride?

For example, a graphic designer that usually designs in 2D is asked to try adding some 3D elements to their design and see what happens. If this was you, how would you respond? Do you say, “that’s not part of my skill set or job.” Or would you be proactive about learning this new skill to expand what you bring to your current (and future) employer?

A Content Writer is asked to move beyond execution and think strategically by considering the overall content strategy. They are given the autonomy to devise the new direction as long as it aligns with the client’s goal. How would you react if you are in this position and presented with this opportunity?

“You’re asking me to try something outside my role, I demand a raise and a promotion.”

Or,

“I’m willing to try out this role, expand my skill set, and prove that I am fit for the prospective role.”

Find a boss that challenges you and you will find yourself gaining the skills needed to advance in your career.

Common social media courses would teach you to go with option 1. Is your boss crazy thinking you shouldn’t get paid to try your hand at something new, potentially screw up due to lack of experience, and learn at their expense?

Yes, that was sarcasm. That’s why you should opt for the latter response. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t negotiate, but how about an approach that sounds more like this: “Thanks boss. I appreciate the opportunity. If I manage to prove myself by learning this new skill in the next six months, can we review my performance at that time to determine the value that this new skill brings to the company?”

Sure, lay it out. That’s fair. Know that doing the job is one thing; doing a great job is another. There is a chance you could suck at your newly acquired skill. Then let’s not talk about the value this new skill brings to the company.

You might say six months is a long time, but in my experience, for an employee to pick up a new skill, it does take that long for them to acquire the skill and prove they can do a great job.

“Again, doing the job and doing a great job are two different things. ”

You can complain about growth and learning on the job is stressful, mind you, I do it too, but I find that I learn something new every day. Without such challenges, I wouldn’t be able to achieve the things in my career that bring immense intrinsic satisfaction.

Growing may require some upfront learning and investment. Moving backwards just requires that you maintain the status quo. Wait, what? The status quo is backward?! Yes, my snowflakes, out in the real world, it’s all relative, and if you aren’t moving forward like others who aspire to achieve more, you are moving backwards.

Being great is stressful, and being mediocre is easy. How will you choose?