How To Measure Success
Although monetary earnings can help you gauge your career success, they aren’t the only parameters that define your professional excellence.
Benjamin Franklin, the man whose face dons the 100-dollar bill, said, “Money has never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one. If it satisfies one want, it doubles and trebles that want another way.”
Your career success can’t simply be measured by money, the years of experience in the business, or your job title. Each person has unique values and expectations, which is why your definition of success at the workplace may depend on what matters to you on a personal level. For instance, you may have a well-paying job yet you feel miserable doing it since it may not be emotionally fulfilling.
That said, below are some of the proven techniques you can use to define and measure your career success.
Your Level of Influence
One of the notably effective ways to measure your value at the workplace and your satisfaction in your career choice involves evaluating the influence you have on your fellow team members. For example, if new team members often come to you when they have concerns, it’s a sign that you can influence decision-making at the workplace.
This may also be the case if you’re always aware of how the team morale is. You may also find other departments or the management constantly seeking your insight on decisions you aren’t directly responsible for, which implies that your input, however minute, is valued. If you’re this type of person, it’s proof that your career has been successful over the years and it remains so going forward.
Your Wages
The job you do should be able to provide enough money to help you meet your daily needs. It’s even better if it can allow you to enjoy luxurious comforts every once in a while.
You may be content with your career choice if it allows you to comfortably cater to the needs of your loved ones, including elderly parents. A satisfactory career should also help you save some cash for emergencies and retirement.
With that in mind, if your job allows you to accomplish one or all of the aforementioned endeavors, it may fit the definition of a successful career.
Opportunity for Career Growth
It’s always a great thing if you’re constantly getting promoted at your workplace. However, long-lasting career growth should have the same trajectory as your professional aspirations.
If you’re yet to determine your career path, you should consider taking some time off to track your progress over the years. Based on the knowledge you gain following the assessment, you should be able to determine how your journey can act as a stepping stone to help you reach where you want to be careerwise.
While the amount of money you earn from your profession can determine your career growth, other personal factors may impact the level of success you achieve.
For instance, you can ask yourself if your career fulfillment may come as a result of deciding to operate within a different vertical. Past that, if you receive regular promotions at your current place of work, it may be a sign that your employer is fully aware of your contribution and they appreciate the quality of your work.
Your Level of Team Cohesion
People inherently have unique backgrounds, methods of operation, and perspectives on best practices, which can collectively make working with a team quite arduous.
Despite that, your career may still be regarded as successful if you find that you’re able to resolve these challenges more easily than when you started. It may take a significant amount of time before you learn to operate efficiently within a team setting. However, you can improve on it in the following ways:
- Adopting smarter strategies for the division of tasks and responsibilities.
- Fostering inter-team relationships via team-building exercises and social events.
If you seem to have enough knowledge of working with fellow team members, it’s a precursor that your career is flourishing.
Contact a Professional in Career-Related Matters
If you’re having trouble determining your professional success, a career coach may be in a position to help you out. Feel free to contact Career Design, a company that offers career and retirement counseling services to motivated individuals. Call us today to book your free introductory consultation.
