“Congratulations!” You’ve just been promoted. How sweet the sound of these words. You successfully arrived at your appointed designation. You worked hard; your efforts were finally recognized: you earned a new title and perhaps even a bump in salary. Career success, announcements, trade publications, updates on your LinkedIn Profile, and the kudos keep coming.
For those wondering how to better navigate your next promotion, I’d like to share some observations based on years of working directly with corporate leaders and decision makers over my career dedicated to talent management, included in both large and small companies.
I will review and discuss some key insights from career experts and thought leaders like Harvey Coleman, author of Empower Yourself: The Organization Game Revealed; and Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, a digital advisor for women and owner and chair of Ellevate Network.
Harvey Coleman’s research indicates that the best route for career success is not only driving consistent, outstanding performance but also having diverse exposure to advocates, mentors and colleagues inside and outside of your business organization while strategically managing your image. Coleman’s roadmap to success is “PIE”: Performance, Image and Exposure.
Approximately 60 percent of our success stems from building a strong network which leaves 30 percent for managing our Image and 10 percent influenced solely by outstanding performance! The good news is that the more you build a reputation for excellence and integrity, the easier it is to network. Coleman tells us that based upon his research, those that are successful in achieving promotions and overall career satisfaction actively share their interests and talents with others while continuing to perform at a high level.
This makes sense, given how quickly organizations and leaders change. Develop relationships with people who you consider successful. Understand how your talents and passions will not only enrich your experiences but will also expand your network. Be genuinely interested in the people you meet. Ask for business cards, only give one out when requested. The long lost art of handwritten notes separates you from an ocean of emails, tweets, blasts and texts. These experiences will help you enhance your skills and reach a broader audience of advocates, fans and career supporters.
Sallie Krawcheck has openly shared some of her key career experiences. Most significantly, Sallie speaks of how she became so focused on her internal network that when she was fired as CFO of Citigroup and head of its Wealth Management Division in 2008, she realized how the neglect of a diverse and broad network had put her career at risk. She later headed the Wealth Management Units of Bank of America which included Merrill Lynch and US Trust.
In the hardball world of corporate politics, Sallie fell victim to a “restructuring”. A track athlete in college, and one not easily defeated, she re-invented herself. She took over 85 Broads, renamed it Ellevate and has successfully helped women re-think their career strategies and become more financially independent. Sallie promoted herself into a new, exciting and meaningful career.
Recently while facilitating a leadership offsite meeting, a participant asked an executive his advice on getting ahead. His recommendations were as follows:
- Make yourself relevant. Seek out problems and embrace these as opportunities to showcase your skills and bring value.
- Negotiate responsibility. Find ways to take on more and develop and the economics will follow.
- Continuously develop. Identify skills that will help you become better at what you want to do. Focus on the skills that are most impactful to your success. Identify your areas of greatest opportunity and work on managing your weaknesses.
Promotions are generally earned not handed out. While showing up for work for an extended period of time may feel like an accomplishment, in today’s challenging and ever-evolving workplace, it’s not good enough.
Learn how to leverage the features of your “career GPS” in a meaningful way that will get you to where you want to go. Listen to the feedback others are giving you. Great leaders respond to feedback and use it as a means to strengthen their brand. Ask to engage in a 360 Feedback process, request honest feedback. The phrase: “I’d like your advice.” is rarely not repaid.
You may get great feedback that may help align your self-perceptions. You may not always agree with others’ perceptions about you but the feedback is your opportunity to reflect on how you might change your behaviors to more positively influence these perceptions.
Lastly, be consistently nice and respectful to all. I am not referring to “nicey-nice”. How do you treat the person that you don’t need to be “nice to” or what do you do when you think no one is looking? Treat all people with respect along with bringing optimism and passion to your everyday interactions with others.
Our professional brand is the result of our interactions with others virtually, on social media, and in all of our interactions – in the hallway, by the water cooler and what we share with others on our LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook. Be consistent whether you’re on company property, at a company party or community event. Remember Coleman’s PIE; Image & Exposure.
Demonstrate your confidence, act with integrity, lead positive change and build a diverse network of supporters and you too will navigate your roadmap to success.
Understand what motivates you, keep relevant, have fun and share your talents. Activate your career GPS and pay attention to when to make the right turns, be focused on where you’re going and you too will hear your career navigator state, “Congratulations, you’ve arrived at your appointed designation!”
Janet Schaeneman, is the board secretary for the Human Resource Association of Central Connecticut (HRACC). As the largest SHRM Chapter in Connecticut, HRACC is committed to serving the HR community by providing superior professional development, networking opportunities, and educational resources to enhance the value of the profession. With over 35 years of influence and contributions to the HR profession, HRACC boasts several accolades within the local and national HR community.
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Friday Focus is an online-only weekly series of columns focusing on human resource, business legal issues, technology, and marketing. Interested in participating? Send an email to Keith Griffin at kgriffin@hartfordbusiness.com.
