For the 21st century professional, navigating the corporate environment can be rewarding, daunting, and full of mind games. Your workspace may contain really nice cafeterias, big windows to let in natural light, and cool looking green spaces. But make no mistake your workspace is laced with land mines so watch how you move! That said, I wanted to offer some keys to succeed. The list below is based on my work experiences and you may or may not find them useful for you moving forward.
The first key is “Don’t wish for it. Work for it!” This notion is easy to understand but difficult to perform. As humans it is natural to want to pursue the path of least resistance and not intentionally pursue the biggest challenge. However, the process of progress requires that we push pass our comfort zone and prove ourselves to our peers and higher ups.
The second key is “You have to be present and engaged to get ahead”. If you do not make yourself available to help on additional cross-functional assignments and get to know others outside of your department or division then you won’t get very far in your career. It is your job to manage your career path so if you are not in the loop, it is your fault. This may sound harsh but the reality is you have to be consistently present and earn the right to be privy to emerging information. The third key is “Money cannot always be the top priority but if you do not make money then you will find it nearly impossible to complete your agenda.” Whether it is a small business you run or you work for a mid-size or major corporation, if you don’t have a solid understanding of the cash in-flows and cash out-flows then you really don’t have a full grasp on your operational activities. The fourth key is “People have a tendency to ask questions that are really statements.” For example, if someone asks something like “Is this the best course of action?” That may potentially mean “I am not confident in your judgment” or “I rather do something else.” If someone asks something like “When you get a moment, will you look over what I mocked up ?” This may mean “Do things this way.” Try to avoid instances of analysis paralysis where you overthink everything stated to you by your colleagues but be mindful of what could be communicated that isn’t always explicitly verbalized. The fifth key is “Always consider the mentality to put the team first.” When a team is cohesive and consistently helps each other, they are more likely to respond to and correct mistakes more efficiently. Based on my experiences, I have come to believe that the hallmark of a good leader is the ability to remove obstacles that hinder your team members from being productive and positive. This is where seeing the bigger picture is essential and focusing less on who is the most correct. The six key is “Be sure to focus on dressing well”. This is not about being vain or having expensive clothes. This is about looking neat and presenting yourself as if you care. Perception matters and your appearance can affect your level of influence in the workplace. The seventh key is “Only focus on a few things”. You can’t be everything for everyone simultaneously. You can do anything but not everything. It is better to focus all your energies on a few, very important things at a time so you can consistently perform quality work. The eight key is “When conflict arises, it is vital that you focus on the issue and not the person(s) involved.” It is easy to lay blame, result to name calling, and back-stabbing. But the reality is the time you spend making the team divisive actually gives your competitors an advantage as the time you waste being counter-productive, the competition is getting ahead.
Hopefully this is useful information that can help you grow your sphere of influence and take your career to the next level. As a bonus, remember to be prompt, positive, productive, and purposeful. Good luck!
– LW
