How is your “career stock” trending? Are you a rising star, working on high-profile projects and seeing your income rise? Or do you tend to be a “steady as you go” performer, treading water salary-wise? Or, do you find yourself losing ground lately, professionally?

Whether you work for yourself or for others, you are the boss of your own career. Maybe it’s time to convene your inner board of directors, assess your current performance and develop strategies to make yourself more valuable. Here are some “self-investment” areas to consider.

Make it Mutual

In today’s collaborative work environment, sharing your knowledge and skills with team members is expected. Not being a team player could derail your career faster than abandoning your sashimi in the company fridge. (Seriously, will you toss that out?) To increase your “mutual trust index,” try to contribute in every meeting; seek out your peers, in person and virtually, to toss around ideas; and be sure your personal strengths are driving team goals and making everyone shine.

Diversify your assets

Technology is transforming every business sector and the life cycle of skills is shrinking. No matter how secure your position, constantly seek opportunities—classes, seminars, books, mentoring—to upgrade your skills to help you remain relevant and upwardly mobile in your career. Innovation and fresh ideas can provide the competitive edge in business today and if you are an agent of positive change with the right mix of assets, this may be able to help you achieve greater professional recognition.

Get frequent stock reports

Annual or quarterly reviews are good practice, however, research shows that ongoing “career conversations” with a manager or team leader are more effective in accelerating one’s professional and income trajectory.¹ They’re a great opportunity to solicit feedback (“How am I doing? How can I make myself more valuable to the organization?”) and to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals so your performance aligns with business needs and delivers a high return.

Calculate your value

Negotiating a raise, promotion or new job is part of business. Begin by doing your homework. What salaries do peers with your professional skills and experience command? What do companies in your profession and geographic area pay? Importantly, what matters most to you? Do you prefer to rise up the ladder or, instead, move laterally into a new area of responsibility? Would greater job flexibility please you more than a fatter paycheck? Is it time for a career pivot? Knowing what you value is the prerequisite to getting what you want.

Research shows that overall life satisfaction is linked to financial well-being. You don’t have to earn millions, but people are more confident when they have a plan, learn more about financial concepts, balance growth and protection products and work with a financial professional. And just as creating a plan and putting it into action is part of confident living, devising a career plan and deploying appropriate advancement tactics can lead to work that is both personally and financially rewarding. And that’s the kind of “stock” that always appreciates.

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2022-139136 Exp. 7/24