Do You Have a Career Strategy?

Watching a recent ITV documentary about the mercurial football manager Jose Mourinho I was reminded of how important strategy is when developing a career, but how many people actually take a strategic approach?  Do you?

Jose Mourniho will be best remembered in Britain for his time a manager of Chelsea Football Club where in a little over three seasons he won the FA Cup, League Cup and the Premier League twice. Before this he won every trophy in Portuguese and European football with FC Porto and since has become the first manager in Italy to win the treble of league, cup and Champions League (with Inter Milan) and then lead Real Madrid to Spanish league and cup titles.

This isn’t however a post just to praise Mr. Mourinho’s achievements, in fact his trophy haul isn’t the most impressive thing about the man.  Rather it is his strategic approach to his own career that stood out more than anything as being truly remarkable.  Jose had a short, unsuccessful career as a player but from the moment this finished, he planned his strategy to become the most successful manager in the world.  Every decision from gaining a Sport Science degree, coaching in schools and working as a translator for Sir Bobby Robson when the former England manager took charge of Sporting Club in Lisbon, has been made according to a strategy that would ultimately lead him to the verge achieving his goal.

So what lessons are to be learned from the man dubbed the ‘The Special One’ by the British media?  Most importantly to actually have a strategic plan for your career, most people simply stumble from one job to the next in the hope that it is improving their prospects.  Next, educate yourself with the knowledge required to achieve your ultimate goal, learn from people who are already in the position you want to be in, ask them to mentor you if possible.  Then search out opportunities and promotions according to your strategy.  The approach certainly seems to have some benefits, with such a high profile, results based job, when asked if he was able to sleep, Mourinho replied with a smile “yes, I sleep perfect”! Do you?