Many people rely on the “luck” strategy in their careers; hoping that somehow they will be in the right spot at the right time to catch their “lucky break.” That’s a great strategy when it works. Unfortunately, it can’t always be counted on. From his years spent coaching executives who have made it to the C-suite, Stephen Miles has learned that you can actually take more control of your career than many people think. With the right forethought and planning, you can set yourself up to be in the right spot at the right time. How? View your game as a career for which you can make “strategic choices” and outmaneuver the “competition” in the same way you would a game.

1.) Think Ahead: Certain career moves logically lead to others. And other career moves will always require certain skills. Are you learning the skills now that you will need for where you want to be? Is your current role a logical “feeder” for where you want to go 2-3 steps down the path?

2.) Choose Your Boss Carefully: We all hear people talk about how it’s important to choose a boss who you are compatible with. However, there is more to it than that. You need to pick a boss who is focused on developing talent and who is willing to invest in your growth. Your boss can be one of the most influential “players” in guiding your career. Go wrong here, and it could cost you.

3.) Assess the Competition: Whether you like it or not, your peers are your “competition.” Know what your peers are up to and how you can play to your relative strengths.

4.) Don’t Make yourself Indispensible: Most people are focused on making themselves indispensible in their current roles in order to create job security, but that can often be a recipe for failure. If you’re indispensable in your current role, it becomes impossible for the organization to move you around. Create a successor underneath you, so that you have the opportunity to seamlessly move on when the next role opens up.