The idea of micro-actions has been buzzing around for a few years now, with good reason.
The New York Times best-selling book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, which describes taking micro-actions to enhance one’s life, has become a widely recommended resource for personal development, habit formation, and productivity.
Psychologists suggest this approach to instill calmness in busy and overwhelming lives.
But what exactly are micro-actions? They are small, manageable tasks with clear beginnings and endings that can be undertaken immediately and completed with minimal friction.
Breaking down large goals into a series of micro-actions can transform the daunting process of pursuing a larger result.
Research shows that regularly completing micro-actions helps to refine our abilities and generate momentum which leads us to those “breakthrough” moments.
In our everyday lives, this concept might seem simpler. For instance, cutting out a single item from our diet, like sugar, can significantly boost our general wellbeing.
Similarly, adopting a routine of walking for just 20 minutes a day can have the same effect.
However, applying micro-actions to your career path in the ever-evolving tech industry can be an invaluable way to land your dream job or plan for progression over the next three to five years.
Perhaps you want to become a senior software engineer at a cutting-edge tech company.
Instead of fixating on the end goal, start by setting micro-actions such as updating your work profile to highlight recent projects, spending a half hour per day learning a new coding language, or networking with industry professionals on platforms like GitHub or Stack Overflow.
Impact your career trajectory
These micro-actions might seem minor, but over time, they can make a substantial impact on your career trajectory.
The fast-paced nature of the tech sector, where constant learning and adaptation are necessary to thrive, makes small, consistent efforts even more vital.
Here’s how you can apply micro-actions to your career path:
- Skill diversification
Micro actions such as taking short online courses, attending webinars or listening to relevant TED talks can help you broaden your skill set, making you more versatile and appealing to potential employers.
- Stay updated
Set aside time each day to read tech news, blogs, or research papers. This micro action can help you stay aware of the latest trends and advancements, enhancing your industry knowledge.
- Personal projects
Dedicate a few hours a week to working on personal coding projects. Not only do these projects demonstrate your skills, but they also serve as excellent portfolio pieces when seeking new opportunities as well as keeping your mind sharp.
- Soft skills development
Schedule time to work on your soft skills like communication, time management and teamwork. Practice active listening and receiving feedback.
- Reduce the time you spend on social media
Consider reducing the amount of time you spend on social media to half an hour per day. This small daily action can have a huge impact, especially if you find yourself browsing social media randomly throughout the day.
Your focus will improve, your momentum will increase, and you will have space for new ideas.
- Reflect and plan
Spend some time at the end of the week to assess your progress and plan what micro actions to take the following week.
If you’re looking for specific tech positions to apply these micro-actions to, the Tech Funding News Job Board has some opportunities:
Software Engineer, Spendesk
Spendesk is looking for a Fullstack Engineer based in London. As part of the Finance Controller squad, the successful candidate would be responsible for delivering high-quality features with high product impact to the Finance Controller.
Information Security Risk Analyst, Improbable
Improbable is seeking a proactive and systematic Security Analyst based in London to spearhead the development of an effective security culture across all its business functions.
Senior Software Engineer, Zopa
Zopa is recruiting a Senior Software Engineer to join its current accounts team. The ideal candidate will be experienced in solving complex engineering problems and will understand the full SDLC and operate production environments.
This article is part of a partnership with Amply. For partnering opportunities, contact [email protected]m or [email protected].
Picture credits: Depositphotos
