With supporting reports emerging almost daily from Today, NBC and more, it’s reasonable to acknowledge the workplace is far more hostile than it was just 10 years ago. Economic pressures, outsourcing, business contractions and falling profits all contribute to make the work environment tougher and, frankly, outright competitive.

So, what do you do as an aspiring manager wanting to advance? How do you seek the best way forward and target that desirable promotion to secure your career path? How do you set yourself apart in the applicant pool?

Simply put, you must first acknowledge the need to take action. It’s not enough to hope to “stay put” and receive regular promotions in an expanding business environment. For most managers, (from the very junior up to the CEO spot) that time is in the past.

Nevertheless, not everyone seems to act. A wise executive once told me there are three reasons people fail to take action. Namely, they:

1. Don’t want to.
2. Don’t know how to.
3. Have become lazy; sometimes called the “fat Rep” syndrome

Now, if you want to control your management career, then by definition most folks should be well motivated; so, item number 1 should be less of a concern. And given most positions no longer leave people “fat, dumb and happy,” item number 3 is much less a factor, too. Therefore, the implication is that aspiring managers wanting to advance (but not taking active measures) simply do not know how to systematically go about the task.

Few of us can afford to spend years randomly searching for reliable ways to position ourselves as strong candidates for positions we desire. Ideally, a “canned methodology” with an obvious structure and proven method is what is required. Similarly, the best way to move forward is by being systematic. What is required is a process that is precise, targeted, reliable, repeatable and, above all, easy to use.

Planning a management career is not a one-time event. Rather, it is a lifelong process that is best undertaken methodically and reviewed systematically over time. Further, it is important to recognize that promotions typically go to those already best prepared to fill the position. Normally, that next job places demands upon you that exceed the skills you currently employ in your day-to-day activity. So, you need to develop yourself for that next role. It is better that you already possess attributes and skills necessary for that next role before you are up for promotion. Importantly, by investing in your proactive development you can position yourself as the best candidate for that job you desire.

More specifically, to target that next position you will need to:

Understand the foundational and generic management skills the job requires

Understand the nature of those generic management skills

Honestly assess your own current competence in the skills you have identified

Select the specific skills you can develop in yourself to enhance your candidacy

Develop a personalized plan to affect the necessary improvements

Once you’ve learned how to target one position, you can readily target any other. More importantly, once you are empowered to recognize how to invest in your career you can continue to plan, reassess and revisit your growth needs as they evolve in the future.

If you’re interested in reviewing a more detailed, hands-on guide to this process, then visithere.

And remember, if you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail!

Ian R. Mackintosh is the author of Empower Your Inner Manager Twitter @ianrmackintosh