The role of managers is evolving, and there are specific career conversations they should be having with their employees. Some managers struggle to initiate these discussions with their direct reports. If your boss isn’t discussing your career with you beyond your annual review, it’s time to take the initiative and lead these conversations yourself.

Six Types of Career Conversations to Have with Your Manager

• Do I Fit into the Corporate Culture?
  Understanding how your role fits within the organization is essential. What contribution are you making? This career conversation with your manager helps map out your career path. It’s also useful to communicate your career aspirations. Before the conversation, conduct a self-assessment to identify your strengths, weaknesses, personal values, interests, and preferences, then discuss your findings with your manager.
• What Should I Develop and How? If you don’t have a coach or mentor, you’ll likely need guidance to support your career development. Think about what you want professionally — don’t leave this entirely up to your manager. Consider potential skill gaps and how you might fill them. Listen to what your manager says about your potential development path and the best ways to navigate it. They may have a completely different perspective.
• What Is Expected of Me? Asking this question periodically ensures your goals and aspirations align with those of the organization. To succeed in any position, you must know and understand what’s expected of you, what you’re responsible for, and how your work is measured and evaluated. Communicate to your manager what resources you need to perform your role effectively. Work with your manager to establish career goals with timelines, tasks, and motivation for your work.
• How Will My Talents and Contributions Be Recognized? Everyone wants to know how their contributions will be acknowledged. This career conversation is the perfect time to communicate what interests you. You can also use this opportunity to work on your personal brand.
• How Am I Doing in the Company? Employees need to know how they’re progressing so they can adjust course when necessary. They want to participate in meaningful projects that make an impact. Take the opportunity to learn from your manager how others perceive you. Request feedback whenever you need it — don’t wait for evaluation periods.
• What Are My Prospects? Mapping out your career path makes sense so you have a vision of where you want to go next. During this career conversation, share your career map and ask about opportunities. This discussion allows you to make adjustments to your career map and understand how each choice will impact your trajectory.

Career conversations matter because they increase interaction between managers and direct reports. The more conversations take place, the more both parties can gain. Don’t wait for your boss to initiate one of these six career conversations — take the lead and start the dialogue today.

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