Career Coach: Strike Up the Band

Now that you’ve created a vision for your future and listed your strengths and your challenges, you’re ready to take action. Too often, however, women skip an important step: telling the right people! They believe that knowing what they want is enough, and that if they work hard enough, someone is bound to notice.

Let go of that idea. Determine who needs to know your aspirations, and who can help you attain them. Be as specific as possible about what kind of help you need, as well as how your career growth will benefit your entire organization. See yourself as a marketing and PR person for your skills and experience.

Alan Weiss, one of my mentors, says, "If you don’t toot your own horn, there won’t be any music." This is the time for your symphony! Make a list of who needs to know you, and who you need to know. Next to each name, write down why that person is important to your success, and create a plan to interact with each one. Strike up the band—and get your show on the road.

—Simma Lieberman, Career Coach