Work in the Moment: 3 Reminders for Managing Your Own Career

Posted on June 16, 2025 | Roland Hearns |

It’s a common professional dilemma: you’re happy where you are, you value your team and your manager, but the promotion you have your eye on just isn’t available. The person in that role isn’t leaving anytime soon. In a smaller company, this can feel like hitting a wall.

So, what do you do? Start looking elsewhere?

Or do you take control of your career right where you are?

Sometimes, professional development is about working in the moment – building skills, gaining experience, and becoming more valuable, regardless of whether a new title is immediately on the horizon. In this guide, Cisso Bean & Dutch will detail three different ways you can manage your own career journey, then explain what employers have to gain from meeting you halfway.

Taking Ownership of Your Career Growth

1.) Look Sideways, Not Just Up

Your Desired Promotion Might Be Blocked, But Your Growth Doesn’t Have to Be.

  • A lateral move into a different department can be an incredibly powerful way to learn new skills, gain a fresh perspective on the business, and make yourself more valuable in the long run.
  • It keeps you challenged and builds your internal network, opening up future opportunities you might not have considered.

2.) Initiate the Conversation

Don’t Wait for the Annual Review. Your Career Development is On Your Mind Today!

Partner with Your Manager & HR:

  • Proactively schedule time to discuss your career goals.
  • Ask questions like, “What skills would I need to develop for future opportunities here?” or “Are there any upcoming projects I could contribute to that would stretch my abilities?”

This shows initiative and a commitment to growth.

Take Advantage of Resources:

  • Actively seek out and participate in any available training (like time management, Excel, or presentation skills), mentorship programs, or educational benefits your company offers.

3. Be Creative in Your Development (And Demonstrate It!)

Ambition and the Drive to Learn New Skills Can Open Unexpected Doors.

  • Volunteer to lead a small project, offer to mentor a new intern or find a process in your department that could be improved. Take the initiative to lead that change!
  • These kinds of actions not only build your skill set but also increase your visibility, helping you stay on the radar even when a promotion isn’t immediately available.

A Note on Retention (And Why Companies Should Pay Attention)

For employees, this approach fosters growth and engagement. But for companies, it’s a powerful retention tool. Turnover in 2025 might be lower than the atmospheric highs of the “Great Resignation,” but for the last few years, data has consistently suggested a strong connection between turnover (or lack thereof) and advancement opportunities:

  • A 2021 Pew Research study that assessed workers leaving their jobs determined 63% left due to a lack of advancement opportunities.
  • A 2022 McKinsey report studying over 12,000 workers revealed that 41% of them cited ‘lack of upward mobility’ as the #1 reason they left their jobs.
  • The 2024 Mercer Turnover Survey examining the US and Canada listed “internal promotions” as one of the top ways to retain talent.

This last point is important! Higher positions have lower turnover and certain skills are becoming harder to find, so you can meet both challenges by growing talent and promoting from within.

Keep Growing and Learning!

As an employee, looking elsewhere is always an option, but remember that the grass isn’t always greener, and you’ll be starting over. Often, the most powerful career moves can be made right where you are by being creative, taking initiative, and actively managing your own development. Your manager and HR are good places to start the conversation!

Want to learn more about the strategies above? Consider our Human Resources Consulting Services! We have an established track record of helping businesses implement “best-in-class” programs, and we’d be delighted to step in and help your team reach its full potential. Contact us today to learn more!