The Executive Ladder

Top 7 Ways to Increase your Personal PR at Work

Self-promotion - if done properly – isn’t something you should shy away from, especially if your goal is to get ahead at work.  Putting yourself in front of executives who can have a positive impact on your career is vital to corporate advancement. 

Before tackling this goal, consider the image you want to project.  Do you want to be seen as visionary?  Decisive?  A leader?  Once you’ve determined the image that will compliment your career goals, plan to involve yourself in a few of the following activities that will bring you the right exposure and get you noticed at work.

1. Assume a leadership position on a team project.  Volunteering to take the lead on a project is a great way for someone who aspires to be in management to showcase their leadership abilities, as well as demonstrate initiative.   

2. Contribute to your company newsletter or website.  Do you possess a gift for writing or knowledge that would benefit customers or other employees?  If so, offer to share it with your company’s employees and customers.  Since company publications are frequently read by top executives, you’ll be increasing your personal PR while establishing yourself as an expert in your chosen area.

3. Join an organization wide committee.  Interacting with the same people everyday won’t increase your exposure, however, working on a committee with new people gives you an opportunity to make new contacts and show off your talents.

4. Represent your company by applying to be on the board of directors for a non-profit.  Non-profit organizations are always looking for talented people to contribute to their organization.  Check with your community relations department for opportunities to get involved.

5. Enlist the support of a well-respected executive who will promote your capabilities to their peers.  Just as political incumbents select an important person to champion their campaign for election, so too should you have someone singing your praises. 

6. Make a list of your accomplishments throughout the year and bring it with you to your annual performance review and interviews.  Quietly promoting your abilities can be more effective than shouting them from the rooftop.  Since no one is as aware of your accomplishments as you are, take notes and share this information when it’s appropriate.  Annual performance appraisals and interviews are a perfect time to quietly show the right people your capabilities. 

7. Always perform at your highest level so you will be a candidate for company performance awards.  Nothing will get you better exposure than exceptional performance.  Employees are nominated for performance awards because they consistently exceed the goals set for them.  Since these awards are often approved by top-level management, it gives you the opportunity to put your name in front of key decision makers.   

© Copyright 2006 Jill Frank.  All Rights Reserved.

Passion Pays Off

Do you know someone who is passionate about their work?  How can you tell?  Do people see passion in you when they observe you at work?  If not, you might want to make some changes. 

While reviewing a backlog of email this morning, I found something worth sharing.  An announcement about an internal promotion at TypePad.  Here it is:

New Leadership for TypePad

"I'm pleased to announce that I've asked Michael Sippey, our VP of Product, to become the General Manager for TypePad. He has been a key part of the executive team at Six Apart since August 2004. Michael's a veteran blogger who is a longtime user of and advocate for Six Apart's products. His love and knowledge of TypePad is as impressive as his passion for delivering a great product, and I'm confident that having Michael serve as GM will lead to amazing things for TypePad and its community of users."

-- Barak Berkowitz, Chairman and CEO, Six Apart, Ltd.

When you work with passion, you get noticed -- and promoted.  Have you "lost that lovin' feelin" for your job?  What steps can you take to get it back again?  Figure that out and soon you could be the subject of an announcement like this one. 

Do You Set “Stretch Goals” for Yourself?

Do you have a development need that you are loathe to address?  We all do, admit it!  While I think it’s vitally important to align your career with your natural strengths, you can’t delegate and avoid your “challenged” areas forever.  Eventually, you’ll have to suck it up and address your weaknesses. 

You’ve heard about stretch goals – a goal that is just out of your current reach.  Well, this week I worked on one of my stretch goals.  Public speaking.  Let me start by saying, I would rather cut off my right arm than speak in public.  In college I decided to tackle this fear and took several speech classes – it didn’t work, so I gave it up for awhile. 

I’ve written about the importance of visibility and networking when you are trying to advance your career.  It’s just as important when you are a small business owner.  It’s time for me to take my own advice. 

Yesterday, I recorded an interview with Milana Leshinsky, founder of ACCPOW, on the topic of climbing the corporate ladder.  It’s my first attempt at any type of recording and I was TERRIFIED.  Luckily, I had an experienced interviewer to work with.  I just finished listening to it (that was even more terrifying…I didn’t want to confirm one of my greatest fears!) and I sound like George W. Bush trying to deliver the State of the Union .  A lot of important information but you can hear the nervousness. 

It isn’t easy to face your fears and weaknesses.  Sometimes it isn’t as bad as you thought. Other times, it’s worse!  The ability to do it over and over again until it becomes second nature will separate you from those that never try...and never achieve greatness. 

What stretch goals can you set for yourself? What is holding you back from achieving your goals? 

Look for more on my audio recording in the next couple of weeks.  I’d love your support, and remember, please be kind!

Are you being perceived as executive material?

If you aren’t using myspace.com, I’m sure you’ve read about.  It’s getting a lot of controversial attention lately.  Today on Good Morning America, they talked about on how your online profile can negatively affect your employment.  While they mainly focused on pre-employment and college admission background checks, I want to relate it to career advancement. 

I’ve written about the importance of corporate visibility before.  Let’s look at it from another angle.  What image have you created for yourself?  It takes a lot of hard work to climb the corporate ladder.  Will it be wasted because of how you spend your personal time?  Not only should you be aware of what you’re publishing on the internet, you should also be aware of your actions outside of work.  Your image will be a factor in promotion decisions. 

I’m not recommending that you censor yourself completely.  I’m asking you to think about your priorities.  Is it more important to have a great career in a high-level position or to express yourself freely?  If you choose your career, be more selective in the way you express yourself.  Think about posting anonymously or toning down your image, both online and when you are spending time with coworkers.  If you choose expression, consider working in an industry or profession that supports creativity and freedom.   

Neither choice is wrong.  It’s about aligning your goals and priorities so that you achieve the greatest success possible without frustration and setbacks. 

A Little Common Sense Advice

I’ve had a request for this particular post.  Some of my friends in HR would like me to offer a little common sense advice.  It never ceases to amaze us how professionals and executives can completely sabotage their careers with stupid mistakes.

Before reinventing the wheel, I wanted to see what was already written on this topic.  Believe it or not, I didn’t find much.  I guess most people prefer to put a positive spin on it rather than a negative one.  Today, I’m going to be brutally honest. 

So here it is, hot off the press: 

Top Seven Stupid Ways to Sabotage Your Career

For your reading pleasure, I’ve included real life examples of the actions taken by otherwise intelligent professionals.

1. Deceptive and dishonest practices 

You’re going to get caught.  Maybe not the first time, but eventually someone is going to catch on.  When they do, fess up.  Don’t act like the three year old who lies to his mother, naively thinking that she doesn’t know you ate the last cookie even though you have chocolate all over your face.

2. Illegal practices

I’m not referring to taking a company pen.  I’m thinking more along the lines of taking a laptop, check kiting between company accounts and your own, or stealing privileged information for a friend who works for the competition.  Don't worry about losing your job, focus on finding an attorney to keep you out of jail.

3. MIA during business hours

Everyone takes a long lunch or cuts out early for happy hour every once in a while.  Taking it to the extreme is acting as if you’ve been on a business trip (that you expensed) when you were actually on a mini-vacation.  This example can also fall under the two previous points.  Another example is hanging a sign on your office door indicating that you are in a three-hour meeting when you aren’t even in the building.

4. Sex and work

They just don’t mix.  Whether you are having a quickie in an empty office (or a company plane…there is a pilot on board, you’re not alone) or you’re having an affair with your (married or single) boss, it will affect your career.  Unless you’re looking for a severance package or a reputation you don’t want to get back to your family, I don’t recommend it.

5. Unprofessional image and attire

Corporate America has relaxed the dress code over the last ten years; however, the following are never acceptable.  Leather or pleather, in any form other than shoes.  That means skirts, blouses, vests, or pants.  Visible belly rings, thongs, or cleavage.  Drowning yourself in perfume or cologne.  Dirty (am I actually writing this???) clothes.  In my first HR Generalist position, I told new employees to check their attire before leaving each morning and if they hesitated even slightly, change. 

6. Becoming the company “suck-up”

There’s one in every company.  You know the type; they have their lips perpetually planted on management’s backside.  Typically, this path is taken because the person has very little to offer.  They become the undeserved, go-to person at the expense of their coworkers and all levels of management between themselves and their new best friend.  If I’m describing you, it’s time to make a complete career change to a company where your reputation can’t follow.  You’ll never be able to change the opinions that have been formed by your existing coworkers.  Choose a career where you can add value so you don’t fall back on old habits.  Although I don’t personally specialize in career transitions, you can find a coach who does at ICF, CCI, or Coachville.

7. Making a fool of yourself at company-sponsored functions

All executives will have to attend company-sponsored functions, with or without clients.  I don’t recommend drinking heavily, acting like the office romeo, or doing “The Elaine”.  Even if you’re not in the office, you’re still at work – act like it.

Hopefully, none of this applies to you.  If it does apply to anyone you know, feel free to pass it along!

Can you add to the list?  Please include examples, it makes for enjoyable reading! 

Oscar Frenzy

What do the Oscar's have to do with career advancement? 

An Academy Award nomination has the power to take an unknown person in Hollywood and make them a star.  According to Tom Bernard, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics in a NY Times interview, "It certainly opens a door for people, and it's their choice on how to use it, or if they choose to go through it."

Would you like to capitalize on recognition you've received or will be receiving in the near future?  The key is to take advantage of the attention immediately.  Just like in Hollywood, the frenzy is fleeting. 

Haven't been the center of attention in your career?  What can you do to be recognized for your achievements?

Achieving Recognition

Are you getting noticed at work?  If so, is it the kind of recognition that will move you up or down the corporate ladder?

Corporate visibility is vital to a successful career.  Anyone on (or wishing to be on) the fast-track should incorporate it in their development plan.  Before tackling this goal, consider the image you want to project.  Do you want to be seen as creative?  Visionary?  Decisive?  A leader?  Once you have determined the image that will compliment your career goals, create an action plan that will help you achieve success and promotions.

What steps will you take to achieve recognition in your career?