124Managing Yourself
fi rst try. As you revise, push yourself to make it more concise and direct,
and ask other people for their reactions. Does it sound like you? Does it
capture your essence?
Your statement of purpose will serve as the foundation for the self-
development strategy you’ll work on in the rest of this chapter. Return to
it periodically, when you’re making a big decision or working through a
particularly stressful period. And keep it in your back pocket as you con-
tinue to consider your own growth and development. Your purpose may
shift over time, so reviewing it periodically and adapting it to your current
thinking is very powerful.
Look for opportunities within your organization
Once you’re clear on your career purpose, begin to look for opportunities
to grow toward those goals. Maybe you want to expand certain skills with
your current role by taking on special projects or stretch assignments. Or
you may feel that you’ve accomplished what you wanted to in your current
role, and you’re ready for the next step in your career—a permanent role or a
tour of duty in which you learn about a different part of the organization.
Consider starting your search for more within your current company.
First, you’ve invested time and effort building your reputation, earn-
ing trust, and establishing credibility there. You’re also familiar with the
culture. Your strongest networks also operate within your organization,
which means you may have more access to opportunities in-house than in
the broader industry. Your company has also likely invested a great deal to
develop your talents; you have knowledge and experience it doesn’t want
to lose. In some cases, you’ll want to consider other organizations (if your
current situation is highly toxic or you want to learn how a different kind of
business operates), but it usually makes sense to start close to home.
Step 1: Investigate formal development
Begin with your company’s formal process for developing talent. Your su-
pervisor is responsible for helping direct reports clarify their goals and fi nd
appropriate growth opportunities, so make an appointment with them