Written by Sharon Harrison
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the promotion you expected didn’t materialize? Were you qualified for the position and ready for the next step, or did you misjudge the situation. Do you have an overinflated view of your abilities and skills? Have you ever wondered why your career isn’t progressing as you had hoped?
Almost everyone wants to get ahead in life; people naturally want their career to progress with the ultimate aim of increasing their rung on the ladder and the financial reward that comes with. What happens when things don’t quite go to plan? Is it possible there are things you could be doing differently in order to get ahead? Sometimes, we are so focused on a single goal we fail to see the bigger picture.
Some people will do almost anything to get ahead as they vie for a step up the corporate ladder, regardless of the impact it may have on co- workers and their ultimate goal. It’s human nature to want to do better, but could we be going about it in the wrong way?
While it may seem obvious to promote your strengths, a person’s weaknesses should not automatically be ruled as something negative. Weaknesses can be qualities, too. Handling difficult situations sensitively and with ease can reveal a lot about us.
Be honest with yourself and expect the same of others. When the chips are down, can you be relied upon to produce results? Are you trustworthy, focused, determined? Are you respected by your peers?
It begins with confidence. Confident people go places, achieve their goals. Once you start believing in yourself, others will too, but there is a fine line between confidence and ego.
Do you see yourself the way others do? If you asked a friend to list three enduring qualities about you, the answer may surprise. Obvious traits such as kindness, compassion and intelligence may come to mind, but the answer may not be what we expect. How we perceive ourselves is important, but perhaps more critically, how do others perceive us? Do others see you as generous or mean? Are you fair or tough to get
along with? What about sincerity? Do you accept your mistakes graciously? Are you committed to your career?
How do people judge you and how do you judge others? Are you the happy person with a beaming smile or always carrying a frown? Think about how you project yourself. Do you have good posture? What about a signature look that makes you stand out from crowd?
While a dazzling smile may get attention, following through with hard results is essential when trying to make a good impression.
Stand out from the crowd: do something, however small, that will be remembered. Impress others. Turn up. Be punctual. Be prepared. While being late for a meeting or not being properly prepared may get you noticed, it likely won’t gain you any Brownie points in the longer term. Dazzle with knowledge. Building trust with co-workers and managers takes time and effort, so go the extra mile and bring something unexpected to the table. And perhaps most importantly, be passionate about what you do and success will surely follow.
Originally Published: March 20, 2017