Career growth rarely happens by accident. The people who move up (or pivot into better roles) usually do two things consistently: they make their impact visible and they build skills tied to business outcomes. If you’ve been feeling “stuck,” here’s a practical 90-day plan you can start this week.

1) Get crystal clear on what “growth” means

Before you chase a promotion, define it.

• Title/level: What role or scope do you want next?
• Skills: What 2–3 capabilities does that role require?
• Outcomes: What measurable results does your manager value most?

Tip: Ask your manager: “What would make you say I’m operating at the next level?” Write their answer down.

2) Pick one “career leverage” project

Look for a project that is:

• Visible: Cross-functional or leadership-facing
• Measurable: Clear success metrics (time saved, revenue, quality, customer satisfaction)
• Strategic: Tied to current priorities

Examples:

• Automate a recurring report to reduce cycle time by 30%
• Improve an onboarding process to shorten time-to-productivity
• Lead a small initiative to reduce customer churn or support tickets

3) Turn your work into proof, not effort

Many strong performers get overlooked because they report tasks, not results.

Try this weekly update format:

• Outcome: What changed because of your work?
• Metric: What moved (%, $, time, quality)?
• Next step: What you’ll do next week
• Ask: Where you need a decision or support

Bold rule: If it’s not documented, it’s easier to forget.

4) Build one skill with deliberate practice

Pick one skill that unlocks the next role (e.g., stakeholder management, presentation, data analysis, system design).

• Spend 30–45 minutes, 3x/week practicing
• Get feedback fast (mentor, peer review, mock interview)
• Track progress with a simple checklist

5) Grow your influence (without more meetings)

Influence is a promotion multiplier.

• Identify 3 stakeholders who affect your work
• Send one concise update every 1–2 weeks
• Offer help on a priority they care about

6) Prepare your “promotion narrative” now

Write a 6–8 line story you can use in reviews and interviews:

• Problem → Action → Result → Scope → What’s next

This becomes your internal promotion pitch and your external interview answer.

If you started a 90-day growth plan today, what’s the one project or skill you’d choose that would most improve your career trajectory—and why?