4 career quick wins: Small steps, real progress

Career quick wins are low-effort, meaningful actions that bring a boost into your work week.

They don’t require a lot of time or planning, but they help support your career, even when you’re not in “big picture” mode.

Small actions that support career growth and wellbeing

1. Communicate your gratitude (10 mins)

Think of someone who made a difference for you recently at work. Maybe they offered thoughtful feedback on an idea or presentation, collaborated with you on a task, or simply showed up with kindness on a hard day.

Now, take a moment to let them know their support mattered. A short (verbal or written) message of appreciation can go a long way.

If you want to make it even more meaningful, cc their department head, or supervisor or write them a LinkedIn recommendation. I recently wrote a LinkedIn recommendation for an awesome client of mine. It was unsolicited and she was touched and surprised when she learned about it.

2. Reflect on learning with “What? So What? Now What?” (5–10 mins)

When a podcast, blog post, or conversation really catches your attention, try this quick reflection framework instead of “just” consuming the next bit of information:

1. What? What stood out or resonated with you?
2. So what? Why does it matter for your work or growth?
3. Now what? What’s one small way you can apply this?

Example: I listened to The Happiness Lab episode “How Do I Stop Negative Self-talk?” where Dr. Ethan Kross suggests speaking to yourself in the third person to gain perspective and distance when you’re inclined to be self-critical. Here’s my own quick reflection on this episode–which I did to help me retain and practice his recommended approach:

What? Dr. Kross explained how saying “You’ve got this, Isabeau” (instead of “I’ve got this”) can calm me in moments of stress when the inner critic’s voice is getting loud and I’m losing perspective. Which is semi-regularly.

So what? Oh my gosh, this is such an easy technique to apply. And there are so many occasions to do so.

Now what? This week, I’ve been practicing this shift in language, especially as I’m feeling overloaded with work. The chatter (inner critic) goes something like: “why do I do this to myself?…why don’t I learn?”.  I counter with “You can do this, Isabeau” or “Isabeau, you can manage this with calm and ease” or something similar.

Bonus: If you do the ‘What? So What? Now What?’ and share your reflections with others, it can open up some interesting conversations.

3. Ask for feedback on your strengths (10 minutes per conversation)

This one takes a bit of courage but is affirming, energizing, and can even be surprising (full details here).

Ask a few trusted colleagues, friends, or mentors for their perspective on your strengths.

Try these prompts:

• What three words describe me at my best?
• When do you notice I have a positive impact?
• What’s one skill I bring to the team?

Their insights can help you see how others view your contributions and and can even uncover strengths you’ve overlooked.

PS: I’ve got a resource you can download. 

4. Start a small successes diary (2 minutes/day)

For five days, jot down three small wins that made your workday better. These don’t have to be major achievements. Maybe you answered an email you’d been dreading, helped a student feel seen, or remembered to stand up and move away from your computer.

The small successes diary helps you notice some of the positive actions you’re taking and what’s working.

Over to you

Which of these quick wins feels most doable for you right now? What’s the first step you’ll take?

Is there one quick win you’ve tried before that you’d like to revisit or approach differently?

Credit: This blog post was inspired by “10 Career Quick Wins” on the Squiggly Careers podcast.