Here's how you can use your past experiences to advance your career as a mid-career professional in strategy.

Even if you are not looking to change jobs, you should be constantly assessing the past in order to inform your future. Understanding your strengths is a key to your career success. I worked with many actors in the entertainment industry when I was in that industry who did not understand their strengths. They always thought they could play any role, and quite frankly they could not. May of them never “made it” because they didn’t focus on the roles that matched their strengths. It’s like that in life I think. Understand what role you’re best suited for, where you have had your most success, and build upon it.

Effective resource management is crucial to optimizing the growth and success of any business. By carefully analyzing and allocating resources, businesses can optimize their processes, reduce waste, and ultimately improve their bottom line. It's important to constantly evaluate and reevaluate resource allocation strategies to ensure they are aligned with the company's goals and objectives. With the right approach, businesses can achieve sustainable growth and stay ahead of the competition in today's fast-paced, ever-changing market. So, take the time to invest in efficient resource management techniques and reap the benefits in the long run.

Past experiences into mid-career strategy? Reflect on the following: - Right Personality? Comfortable with ambiguity, uncertainties, creative problem solving, whole-brain thinking - Pace of work? a. Low, b. Medium c. Blitz scaling - Type of strategy? Roger Martin in his HBR article says there still only two approaches: a. Cost based strategy b. Differentiation based strategy. - Type of business environment? BCG (Your strategy needs a strategy) has identified two broad drivers of business environment: a. Predictable vs unpredictable, b. Malleable vs non-malleable These can be used to reflect if Strategy as a career option for you, or which kind of industries you must get into for career in strategy.

Reflect Deeply: Start by conducting a thorough reflection of your past roles, projects, and experiences. Identify key successes, challenges you overcame, and skills you’ve developed. Reflecting deeply helps you understand your unique value proposition and areas for improvement. Example: In my previous role as a project manager, I led a team that turned around a failing project to deliver it on time and under budget. Reflecting on this, I realize my strong crisis management and leadership skills can be directly applied to strategic roles that require quick thinking and decisive action.

It is through reflection that you will be able to see how you can connect the dots. It is not during the time that something is in process that we can see why it might be happening. It is only afterwards when we can connect the dots and go deeper to understand why certain things have happened. It is within that reflection that one can learn, adapt and grow from their experiences.

Past experiences into mid-career strategy? 1. Identify existing transferable skills a. People skills b. Leadership c. Intellectual agility (creative problem solving, adaptability, strategic thinking) 2. Identify the type of professional you are a. ' - ' (Dash) a generalist b. 'i-shaped' professional (deep domain expertise) c. 'T-shaped' (depth in one area, broad understanding in horizontal area) d. ' π ' Pi-shaped professional (deep domain expertise in two related areas and broad horizontal understanding) e. 'X-Shaped' professional (deep domain and management experience). In addition it having all skills under #1, identifying where we are in #2 can be used develop a career path into a strategy role.

Skill Transfer: Identify which of your current skills can be transferred to new roles or responsibilities within strategic planning. Emphasize how these skills can be applied in different contexts or expanded industries. Example: My background in data analysis and performance metrics can be transferred to strategic roles requiring competitive analysis and market trend forecasting.

With every role we take it is normal to face challenges, setbacks, and learning lessons. These dents shapes our skills and resilience, these are the skills bank account. And it's an international one we take it with us everywhere and we can use it as much we need, actually the more we use it, the more it has credit

While identifying transferable skills is valuable, introspection alone might be insufficient. Self-reflection promotes skill development but can overlook context and lead to biased assessments. Listing skills lacks evidence; showcasing achievements using them demonstrates impact. Tailor your skillset to specific roles and seek external validation. Consider situational judgment tests and behavioral interviewing for a more comprehensive evaluation. This approach strengthens your transferable skills presentation, enhancing your candidacy.

Networking is vital, but remember it's more about building meaningful relationships than just collecting contacts. Catch up with former colleagues, mentors, and peers in your industry to share experiences and discuss your career goals. These conversations can give you new insights into your past work and how it can apply to future opportunities. Your network can also keep you in the loop with the latest trends, which you can integrate with your existing skills to help your career grow.

It's essential to cultivate relationships with peers, mentors, industry experts, and thought leaders within the strategy community to expand your professional network and access new opportunities. Also, Attend networking events, join professional associations, participate in online forums, and engage in informational interviews to connect with individuals who can offer valuable insights, advice, and potential career prospects.

Network Smartly: Leverage your professional network to gain insights into industry trends and potential job opportunities. Engage with peers, mentors, and industry leaders through professional groups, conferences, or LinkedIn. Example: Join strategic management or industry-specific LinkedIn groups, participate in discussions, and connect with key influencers to expand my knowledge and visibility in the field.

Well Networking is Just that for me, connecting with those who you have a relationship with. Nothing is better than building relationships. I guess it’s just up to one’s definition of Networking

Networking is a business and personal must. It's not a luxury, we are humans and we depend on interactions to create perceptions. We must always assign time for that, it's a task not a free time hobby

Demonstrating resume strategy? Take the STAR approach to describing things S - Describe the SITUATION clearly T - TASK to be completed A - ACTION taken to complete the task R - RESULTS If you have not been in Strategy Development roles, identify ways on how your work is related to Strategy Execution. If there is no connection, you just stop what you are doing and rethink the usefulness of your work from a company perspective.

Update Resume: Ensure your resume reflects your strategic capabilities and achievements. Use quantifiable results to demonstrate how your past experiences align with the needs of strategic roles. Example: Revise my resume to highlight that I developed a strategy which increased market share by 15% within two years, emphasizing my direct impact on business growth

I personally rarely do that and I know it's not the right thing. If you can't do it on your own, ask for help, get in touch with expert that can guide you, there are also many oine tools to use and benefit from

When updating your resume, it's crucial to craft a narrative that showcases your strategic expertise. Many people create generic resumes that fail to highlight their specific contributions in past roles. Instead, focus on detailing the significant strategic initiatives you've led or contributed to, tailoring your resume to emphasize the skills and experiences most relevant to the position you are targeting. Use clear, action-oriented language to underline your achievements and the impact of your work, making it easy for potential employers to see your value as a strategic thinker.

Learn Continuously: Stay updated with the latest tools, techniques, and theories in strategic management. Enroll in courses or workshops that enhance your strategic thinking and analytical skills. Example: Complete a certification course in strategic management from a reputed institution, such as the Strategy Training offered by the American Management Association.

I'm a consistent learner, I feel alive when I learn something new 😉, I feel I make brain happy with such challenges. If I want to live longer dor couple of reasons, one of them would be to keep learning and the other would be to leave a positive impact in life.

I have been learning all my life, There is no easy way you can get ahead of your competitors if you keep on learning and be the best in what you do.

Bei der Karriereplanung ist es entscheidend, sich die Frage zu stellen: Wer bin ich und was möchte ich wirklich erreichen? Die Ziele sollten meinen eigenen Werten und Interessen entsprechen, nicht den Erwartungen anderer. Es geht darum, sich selbst zu kennen, zu reflektieren und flexibel zu bleiben, da sich Prioritäten ändern können. Eine gesunde Karriereplanung berücksichtigt nicht nur berufliche Ziele, sondern auch persönliche Ausgeglichenheit, Beziehungen, Gesundheit und gesellschaftliche Auswirkungen. #Skillsentwicklung #Karriereplanung"

As a strategy professional, being one step ahead is not just advantageous—it’s essential. Approach your professional development with the same strategic mindset you apply to your work. Identify the skills and knowledge areas that are becoming increasingly important in your field and create a plan to master them. This might include emerging trends in digital transformation, data analytics, or new business models. The right tools can significantly streamline your work and improve your efficiency. Make it a habit to stay informed about new software and tools relevant to strategy professionals. Follow industry blogs, podcasts, and webinars led by thought leaders in strategy.

Adapting to Future Work Trends In today's rapidly evolving world, staying abreast of future work trends and their impact on our current professions is of paramount importance. This necessitates a proactive approach to aligning our skills and knowledge with the demands of the evolving job market. One valuable resource in this endeavor is the World Economic Forum's reports on the future of work. These reports provide invaluable insights into the emerging skills, new job opportunities, and occupations at risk of obsolescence. By understanding these trends, we can strategically plan our career trajectories and take the necessary steps to upskill and reskill.

Past experiences & strategic vision? Thought leadership is a unique perspective about the future in your area of expertise. - Thought leadership can come from deep intuition and foresight. Eg. Peter Drucker - Thought leadership can come from deep research. Eg. Michael Porter - Thought leadership can from past experience. Eg. AG Lafley, Jack Welsh, - Thought leadership can from a combination of the above. Eg. Roger Martin Those with past experience can identify a small but a growing niche. To articulate their unique voice in their area of expertise.

In addition to pitching new ideas, I’m a huge fan of pitching new roles. Companies want to hang on to top talent, and if you’ve found a problem that is not being solved by the current company strategy, and you can make a case for budget (especially if it’s revenue generating or solves customer issues), people are generally open to it. Even if you don’t get your fullproposal accepted, you could at least negotiate to spend part of your time on building that new role out. Or you could ask for a time trial to operate in that role. There are so many creative ways to build a title, compensation and job description that if you have a great partner in HR, especially, the sky is the limit.

A lot of great perspectives might I add that to leverage your diverse experiences to enhance your strategy career by applying cross-industry insights for innovative problem-solving. Utilize strategic storytelling to communicate complex ideas and influence stakeholders. Engage in mentorship to refine leadership skills and stay updated. Use your network for strategic partnerships and opportunities. Continuously learn from past experiences to improve decision-making. Develop adaptable strategies based on prior successes, publish insights, and speak at events to build credibility. Create strategies that preempt and manage risks effectively.

Be the business strategist. Think, speak and act strategically. Move from operational matters to strategy level. Build the business acumen and business sensemaking to connect the dots and see new pictures to bring onto the table. Understand and speak the market and its dynamics covering potential substitutes, competition and rivalries, new entrants, changes and disruptions. Be the business thought leader within the organisation.

Reflect on your past endeavors to pinpoint the crucial skills, achievements, and insights gained. Weave these elements into a captivating story illustrating your career journey, emphasizing your knack for strategic thinking, problem-solving prowess, and leadership finesse. Tap into your network to uncover fresh avenues, solicit guidance from mentors, and remain abreast of industry currents. Dedicate yourself to ongoing professional growth via training, certifications, and networking engagements, ensuring you remain at the forefront of the dynamic strategy realm.

Reverse your decisions into frameworks. You likely have been in situations where youve helped take decisions. Break them down into stories and frameworks that help you reuse the experience. It will add value to you and your clients.

Make sure to keep updating your network whenever you pivot out of an industry, company or profession to keep building on the possible value of your relationships. Above average relationship skills are a big part of an above average career. Feel free to follow for more tips on continuous career innovation & reinvention 🍀