Career Contessa The Career Development Playbook: What To Do Each Quarter to Advance Your Career Year-Round
Jan 20, 2026
In this discussion, career coach Michelle Schafer shares her insights on creating a quarterly career playbook for sustainable growth. She emphasizes the importance of breaking down goals into manageable chunks and staying accountable. Michelle reveals how to initiate valuable career conversations, increase visibility, and seek constructive feedback. Each quarter focuses on specific actions like clarifying your brand, networking, and celebrating achievements. With practical tips and a structured approach, she ensures listeners can drive their own development.
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Drive Career Development Year-Round
- Career development must be a year-round activity you drive, not a once-a-year manager-led event.
- Regular attention increases progress and gives you control over your trajectory.
Initiate Conversations To Unlock Support
- Many people wrongly believe leaders must drive their development and thus stay passive.
- Initiating conversations signals seriousness and invites leaders to support your growth.
Start With Clarity In Quarter One
- In Q1, pause and gain clarity: define your vision, values, brand, and skills gap.
- Use that clarity to map specific skills you must develop to reach your target role.