Bonus Day 23: Ask your manager about their career growth plans
Understanding your manager's career aspirations helps you support them better and also gives you insights into potential opportunities.
๐๐๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐.
This shows you care about their development and helps you understand how you might fit into their future.
When Carlos Arguelles asked me this question during his second week at Google, it surprised me. But getting a reportโs perspective on my career growth was extremely valuable over the years we worked together and beyond. We stay in touch even today as sounding boards for each otherโs careers!
๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐, ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. Choose a relaxed moment - maybe during a walk or at the end of a productive 1:1 when the conversation feels natural.
๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐: "I'd love to understand your career goals and how I can support them. What are you hoping to achieve in the next year or two? Are there ways I can help you get there?"
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐:
โ Shows you think beyond just your own development
โ Demonstrates emotional intelligence and relationship building
โ Positions you as a strategic partner, not just a report
โ Creates opportunities for deeper collaboration
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น:
โข Upcoming opportunities you could be part of
โข Skills they value and want to develop in their team
โข Changes in team structure or focus
โข How to position yourself for future growth
๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐: Some managers will share immediately, others need time to trust you with their aspirations. Don't push if they're not ready to open up.
๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต: If they share specific goals, look for concrete ways to support them. This builds the kind of loyalty that leads to career opportunities.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐ฝ: When managers feel genuinely supported by their team, they're more likely to invest in their team members' growth.
Helping your manager grow often leads to more growth for you.
๐ Liked this post? Follow me on LinkedIn or here on Substack for the remaining posts in this series and more!
โ Want to get even better at asking? I still have a limited number of seats left in the July 25 cohort of my course. Last cohort of this year! https://maven.com/chaitali-narla/outstanding-tech-career