ve·loc·i·ty: the speed of something in a given direction

As a part of my regular work day, most of the people I talk with are interested in making a career transition. For many, missing from their long-range career development plan is the maintenance of regular, easy habits that could make an impact on any professional at any career stage.

A career limiting assumption has been made.

I’ve had the honor of working with highly accomplished senior leaders who have spent their career focusing on building, leading, and serving organizations. These leaders have what I refer to as an “executive mindset” with deep business acumen and the ability to deliver results through long-range and strategic planning for their companies. However, they’ve often lacked a focus and similar strategic mind-set to nurture their own career.

You need career boosting habits for professional movement.

Creating and sticking to a career advancing habit is really no different than the mindset needed for a physical fitness program. If you are considering a career transition now or anytime in the future, I challenge you to start developing a career fitness program today. Stat. The terrific thing about starting a career fitness program is, technically, you don’t have to get off the couch to roll these three habits into your daily practice.

Three game-changing habits you can start today to give your career velocity:

1. Calendar 15 minutes a day to reach out and connect with people on LinkedIn.

Do it while you have your first cup of coffee, while you wait for your kid to finish soccer practice, or right before bed. Finding these 15 minutes leads to 90 minutes of conversations and networking you would have been missing out on every single week!

But Gina, isn’t it weird just sending connection requests?

Yup. So, don’t do that.

For the first 21 days, focus on igniting conversations with your current connections. Ask how they are doing. What makes them excited about their job? What work challenges are they facing within their organizations? Is there anyone you can connect them with to help solve their problems? Your objective is to stay curious about them and generous in your offerings. Connecting with your network is not about you, it is about nurturing quality relationships. Maintaining these relationships is what gives your career velocity.

2. Read and take notes on one industry article every day.

Find articles of interest on LinkedIn or subscribe to trade magazines. I receive hot topics every day from Medium, HBR, Forbes, and in my related field of Organizational and Leadership development. I bet you have a list like this, too. Use what you learn to improve the quality of your networking conversations (see habit #1).

Where most executives miss the opportunity for career velocity is the lack of engagement with their network regarding hot business topics. What better way to establish yourself as a thought leader than by weighing in to add comments and valuable insights into the conversation? Lay down a breadcrumb trail so future employers can see your active engagement with the world at large.

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An alternative stretch goal for you to employ is to read a chapter a day or listen to a career related podcast (See what I did there? Career fitness includes stretching!) Take notes and allow what you learn to be your guide to the next book you buy, podcast you listen to or person you connect with because you are so curious about what you are learning.

In the past year, I have read countless articles and books related to personal branding, leadership and coaching. I have listened to over 200 podcasts. This has not only informed my work, but has created opportunities to make and improve connections with leaders I admire on the LinkedIn platform.

3. Secure one short networking phone call a week with one of your connections.

I get it. Everyone is busy, who has time for this?

Look carefully at the suggestion. Make this a phone call (video or audio). Don’t ask to take someone for a coffee. Don’t pick any brains. Make a human connection based on something that makes you curious and have a conversation about it. At the end of the year, you will have had 52 conversations and broadened your perspective on a whole host of topics. Let habit #2 be your guide on what conversations to have based on what makes you most curious.

Start with who you know. Connect 360 degrees – up, down, and sideways. Conversations with familiar people will make networking seem more natural when you venture beyond your circle. Talk with people outside your industry and seek best practices. These may be the people you lean on when you are poised for a career transition. Make connecting a regular habit.

What would it take for you to build up healthy career advancing habits?

Give yourself some time. How about committing to two and a half months? Recent scientific research has shown after starting a new habit, it can take up to 66 days (up to 10 weeks) on average for habit formation. (University College London, The Science of Habits)

My work speaks for itself. It shouldn’t be hard to get a job.

In September’s Economic News Release from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, it was reported that wage and salary workers were with their current employer for 4.2 years (this is a median number and varies by age and occupation of course). Why wait for a career transition to surprise you? Wouldn’t you rather be gaining traction and prepared to make a career transition versus on your heels wondering where to start?

If you’ve been with the same company or in the same job for many years, you might be due for an external force to switch things up.

Let’s go there. You are now in the position of starting from square one. You’ve got a resume to get in shape complete with top notch SEO (search engine optimization) and you are ready to scour the internet and submit widely.

Here lies the rub. Your best opportunities are not found on the internet, they are found in the hidden job market, where you should have been proactively networking. The hidden job market is where conversations are taking place about the challenges a company is facing before a job ever gets posted. “98% of job seekers are eliminated at the initial resume screening and only the “Top 2%” of candidates make it to the interview” (Robert Meier, President of Job Market Experts, 2016). Those who have not attended to building meaningful relationships are suddenly feeling very behind. And that can feel desperate. And desperate people aren’t great at networking because it is hard not to make the conversation about, well, your current job search.

In short …

Authentically build up your network and deepen the quality of your connections by engaging in relevant and challenging business topics of the day. Once you gain momentum, you will feel inspired to maintain these three healthy habits that will benefit you and your network. I caution you not to do a burst of activities and then stop, because having career velocity means forward movement through steady and regular actions. The payoff is gradual as you make genuine business connections and expand your professional network, not only in numbers, but in quality relationships due to conversations you’ve sparked.

OK, enough of the pep talk. I’d like to hear from you.

•What habits are you employing now to fuel your career? Are they working? Please share in the comments below!

•If you don’t have a regular habit, what have you been inspired to do today? Can you keep it up for it to become a habit?

Now, go give your career velocity!