How to Build an Impactful Career

Everyone aspires to have a sense of purpose or meaning in their work so that they can leave a legacy that inspires others. It is not, however, a simple task. There are a lot of factors that need to be emphasized in order to build an impactful career, and most people get confused about them. As a result, Shellye Archambeau, former CEO of MetricStream, a Silicon Valley-based company, discusses how to build an impactful career in this episode of the Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders podcast on Stanford eCorner.

Shellye Archambeau talks about her strengths and challenges throughout her career. She chooses a very important topic that requires a lot of attention as the first topic to discuss. Employees are looking for credibility, so it is important to show them some appreciation as well. If their flaws can be discussed and corrected, their strengths can be praised and improved as well. She goes on to discuss how employees can establish themselves in order to build an impactful career. Her first piece of advice is to address the problem head-on but in a professional manner. Along with dealing with your problems, you must also focus on building relationships. This also contributes to a positive work environment. She also advises listeners to work in sales at least once during their career because it provides a lot of experience. Another thing she considers important is adjusting to the workplace culture. There is a good chance that you are dealing with minor or major issues at work on a regular basis. However, it is preferable to talk politely and end the conversation professionally rather than causing a conflict and disrupting the environment for others. Adapt to the situation as best you can. Even if they do not work out, talk to someone in authority about it and get it resolved politely. It is critical to building strong interpersonal relationships with everyone on your team at work if you want to work efficiently in a positive environment. She also encourages listeners to build a strong network not only within their company but also outside of it. A strong network provides you with more opportunities to improve your current job performance as well as new opportunities. It is imperative in order to build an impactful career. She goes on to explain why negotiating your necessary requirements motivates you to work harder and put forth your best effort. Negotiation, in her opinion, should be done for the things that motivate you to perform at your best at work. Employees must speak up for the things they need to improve their performance and give their best efforts if they are truly in need of them. Finally, she suggests that the ability to look up to senior executives as mentors rather than just leaders is critical. To improve your work, you must learn from their mistakes and maintain positive relationships with them.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach in order to build an impactful career. Learning and growing are the foundation of a successful career. However, you can get a head start on the process by following the advice given by Shellye Archambeau in this episode of the Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders podcast on Stanford eCommerce.