There is absolutely no reason why you cannot manage your own career through a series of preemptive actions. Most complain about how stultifying their jobs are, how they have reached a glass ceiling, or how insecure their boss is and how he is holding them back. Then they let each one of these factors militate against their career to let it take its own course. Most are far more comfortable being a victim of their circumstances than they are being a victor. Because to move from being a former to the latter involves taking charge of your situation, taking some risks, and then acting on the plan that you set out to execute.

Regardless of the specifics of your own career barrier, the following prescription is offered to transform your usage of the word “career” from a noun to a verb:

1. Take a stock of what is happening and what should be happening in your career trajectory. Assess how much of the blame points inwardly; you’d be surprised what you discover if you remain objective in this assessment.
2. Shed the victim mantle and put of the victor armor. Make a list of things you must do to turn the situation around that has got you stuck. For example, if your boss is ignoring you and you are not getting any credit for you good work, take charge of the situation and write a memo to everyone in your team thanking your boss for giving you the opportunity to take on a project that you successfully completed. Send a copy to his boss and let her know that your boss is a good leader. Mention this in open meetings where your boss is going to be present. Pretty soon he will get the picture that you are there to make him look good and he will start paying attention to your needs.
3. If no one has praised you for your good work, take a random person and praise them. Praise must be specific, genuine, timely, and spontaneous. When you give this praise the recipient should light up and start telling you about their accomplishment proudly. Praise is a contagious sport; pretty soon it will boomerang back to you. If you feel shy doing this in person, do it by email or a note! The amazing aspect about giving someone praise is that the recipient assumes that you are someone important!
4. As you move up in the hierarchy what matters is the relationships you have with those around you. This is particularly important for those who come from technical ranks. They are raised in the belief that as long as their technical work is flawless, everything else should not matter. Wrong! No one likes a smart alec, but everyone finds irresistible people who make them genuinely feel worthy and good. This is the basis of establishing good relationships.
5. Set out an objective to advance your career in a measurable way. For example, if you are a senior manager vying to become a director in a year, merely doing a good job in your current position is not enough. You must become visible at the level that matters. Supporting your boss in front of their boss; becoming visible by taking initiatives and social causes that the company believes in, and so on. If you do this well, most of the people working with you will wonder how is it that you are just a senior manager and mingling with higher ups effortlessly. Once you become part of the circle in upper management you will be seen as a part of the upper management. Remember, to move up, relationships matter and not merely your competence.
6. Look for outside jobs that are one or two levels above your current title. Find what job skills you need to develop to qualify for those positions and then ask your boss for assignments that allow you to take on those opportunities. Each year proactively draft your resume for those positions and see what assignments will take you to claim that expertise. Now you are managing your career with you in the driver’s seat.
7. Learn how to look and feel important and project that image. You can influence people without authority. Understand the difference between influence, power, and authority.
8. Understand how senior executives in your company spend their time professionally, socially, and in the way that they project their image. For example, if they all belong to a certain club or a network, join that club and get in to be seen as one of “them.”
9. The best way to claim a position that you are vying for is to act as if you already are in that position and to start behaving as if you have that responsibility. Without alienating your team, show leadership that allows you to be seen as doing that role and getting everyone’s cooperation. When time comes for a promotion no one would be surprised if you get that promotion.
10. Senior managers and those in the executive suites have extensive networks. Start developing your own network of influential people and take time to nurture and expand your circle of friends and professionals. Make an investment of time every week to make this a scheduled activity in your routine.
11. Learn how to communicate effectively and to take on opportunities that require you to speak publicly. Nothing creates greater visibility than to have done well in a presentation that has public exposure. Join Toastmasters or similar organizations to ratchet up your leadership and communication skills
12. Do not wait to be assigned a project. Identify a project that will improve the company’s position and take it on. Send out a memo spreading the news of your successful accomplishment, and, once again, thanking your boss!
13. Take on someone to mentor and find yourself a mentor. Learning is painful but without pain there is no growing. Seek out opportunities to take risks and do not be afraid to fail. As Winston Churchill said, Success consists of jumping from failure to failure without admitting defeat!

Good luck!