Are you looking for ways to advance your business administration career? Do you want a higher-level position with more responsibility and higher compensation? Or, perhaps you want to shift your career and become a recognised figure in your industry?
If so, you need to find ways to expand your knowledge, capabilities, experience, and authority.
This article will give you five effective tips to level up your career in business administration. This way, you can finally attain your career goals and earn your desired income.
Why you should set clear career goals
Before you start working towards advancing your career, you first need to get crystal clear on what exactly it is you want to achieve. This is where setting goals comes in. Having well-defined goals creates a roadmap that keeps you focused, motivated, and strategic in your actions.
Define your vision for career success
To start, ask yourself where you see your career heading. Do you aspire to become a department head, lead a high-performing team, or even step into a C-suite role?
Identifying your long-term aspirations provides clarity and anchors your decision-making at every stage. When you have a clear vision, it becomes easier to align short-term actions with your ultimate goals.
For example, if you dream of being a Chief Operating Officer (COO), your path may involve mastering operational processes, enhancing leadership skills, and demonstrating strategic planning expertise throughout your roles.
Without that vision, you might focus on tasks that don’t move you closer to where you ultimately want to be.
This clarity also allows you to say “yes” to opportunities aligning with your goals and confidently decline distractions. Think of it like steering a ship: the more apparent the destination, the more focused your navigation efforts will be.
Use the SMART Framework
Setting goals using the SMART framework ensures they are actionable and achievable. SMART stands for:
- Specific: Clearly define what you want to accomplish. For instance, instead of saying, “Improve my leadership skills,” you could say, “Complete a business administration certificate in the next year.”
- Measurable: Quantify your progress. An example might be improving team efficiency by 15% over the next quarter or reducing project turnaround times by one week.
- Achievable: Ensure your goal is realistic, given the resources and time you have. If you plan to develop advanced financial modelling skills, can you dedicate the necessary weekly hours to training?
- Relevant: Align your goals with broader career and organisational objectives. If your company values innovation, a goal could be to lead the implementation of a new project management tool.
- Time-Bound: Set deadlines to keep momentum. For example, aim to expand your professional network by attending at least three industry conferences this year.
How to advance your career in business administration
Now that you have your sights set on a specific goal, here are five of the most effective tips for career advancement to earn higher salaries and become a well-known expert in your field.
1. Get a degree or MBA
We will start with the top way to advance your career.
Earning an education can help you qualify for higher-paying positions from the get-go.
You will gain the necessary knowledge and skills and prove to your employer that you are committed to succeeding. You went through several years of education to learn the tricks of the trade, after all.
There are several options to choose from.
REGENT offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, which is a three-year course. If you study with us, you will have two study options:
- Distance learning is where you get to study independently and work while studying.
- Rich distance learning is where you get frequent contact with classmates and lecturers, while still maintaining independence.
If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Master’s degrees often lead to higher pay and leadership roles that are not achievable with undergraduate degree programs.
Learn more about how you can upskill through education.
2. Participate in projects in your organisation
Taking on new challenges within your organisation is a great way to learn new skills.
You can advance your career within your current company by asking managers for more responsibilities. Simply approach them and ask them to give you more diverse responsibilities or to include you in more challenging projects.
Also, monitor your managers and other employees closely to see if they need assistance with any office tasks.
This will allow you to develop new abilities and help you come across as proactive and reliable — both excellent leadership traits.
3. Write a book
You can write a book if you want to advance your career outside of the office and build a personal brand or authoritative presence.
Writing a book will boost your profile and help you build a brand around your expertise, thoughts, and skills.
The internet has made it easy to write and publish a book. So much so that you could write and publish a book within a few months, if not weeks. There are many options for writing a book.
You can write and pitch books to a traditional publisher or self-publish the book on platforms like Amazon.
If you are not a good writer, you can even pay someone to write the book for you by giving them notes on what you would like included to provide them with your unique experience.
You may need to learn something about marketing if you self-publish your book. To build up these skills, consider enrolling in a course such as REGENT’s Higher Certificate in Marketing Management that will teach you all you need to know about marketing.
4. Make use of networking opportunities
Another great way to get out there and show your expertise is to attend networking events and get to know others in the industry.
This will open new doors for you and allow you to immerse yourself in the industry and gain new knowledge from other experts.
Someone you meet may connect you to an international business owner in desperate need of your skills — allowing you to uproot and travel.
5. Teach others
Since you already have a lot of knowledge in business administration, why not teach others?
You do not need to be a professor to teach. Websites like Skillshare, Udemy, and other learning platforms allow you to share your specific skills and knowledge with the world.
These platforms give you the means to teach and share your passion with others, and you can also make additional income from it.
All you need to start is a computer, a camera (or your phone) to record, and a mic to make sure the audio is good. From there, you can record your lessons and instruct others.
In the same way as writing a book, teaching a class or course could help position you as an expert in the industry, which could ultimately help you establish your own business.
Are you interested in starting a business? Discover the eight essential steps to follow when starting a business.
FAQ
How can I prepare for a leadership role in business administration?
To effectively prepare yourself for a leadership role, you need to focus on professional development. First, you need to assess your strengths and weaknesses to sharpen any skills you do not have. To find areas of improvement, you can ask for feedback from others.
Next, you must improve your communication skills, focus on growing your leadership abilities, and commit to continuous learning. In an ever-evolving business environment, there is always something new to learn.
What are some tips for negotiating a higher salary or promotion?
Negotiating a salary increase or promotion can feel daunting, but you can confidently approach these conversations with the right preparation. To make the process easier, here are some tips:
- Research your market value
- Highlight your achievements
- Time your request wisely
- Prepare a clear and professional pitch
- Be ready to negotiate beyond salary
How can I maintain a good work-life balance in a demanding career?
The best way to maintain a good work-life balance is to prioritise your tasks and separate your work hours from your personal life.
The time spent at work should be spent finishing tasks, while your time off should be spent with your family or doing the things you enjoy. You must make self-care a non-negotiable — even if your career is demanding.
Ready to up-level your business administration skills?
Have you decided that you would like to upskill to gain better career opportunities? Have a look at REGENT’s Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration courses.
If you want to start your own business, you can consider pursuing a course such as the Higher Certificate in Entrepreneurship to help you get there quicker.
Whatever you decide, you are guaranteed to advance your business administration career path — whether into a higher-paying job or a business.
Not sure what the best option is for you? Fill out an enquiry form, and one of our consultants will get back to you.
