Promoting Yourself Is a Priority

Q. I just received a memo from a co-worker telling me (and several others), about certification she recently received. It seemed like she was boasting, and it turned me off. I don’t make it a habit of telling people what I accomplished—just my boss. What do you think of what she did?

A. I think she’s smart, and politically astute. There is no one who is more committed to your career and success than you. And if you don’t let your light shine, who else will do it for you? I’m not suggesting that you paper the department with your kudos. But letting people know what you’ve accomplished can help you build your clout and respect in your working relationships. Keep your boss informed first. But let others know, too. It’s an important way to gain career exposure. When managers start looking for someone to fill a new spot, they usually consider current employees first. Wouldn’t you want to be on the top of their search lists? Here are some professional ways you can promote yourself on the job—and in your career field.

Position Yourself Favorably

• Make sure that you’re pleasant, enthusiastic, entertaining and informative at coffee breaks, at lunch, at meetings, at social gatherings outside of work.

• Go to seminars and workshops that other people in your company attend, Find ways to support these people, and learn from them. They’re already on the growth track.

• Write a memo about an idea you have that might help someone else in the department, perhaps offering to explain the idea further.

• When you hear of someone's getting a promotion or something good happening to them, send a note complimenting them.

• Establish contacts with respected managers at department parties, and focus on having productive, informative and helpful conversations with them.

• If your company has a sports team, join it and enjoy the fun; let yourself be seen as a positive, friendly person to be around.

• Take advantage of the organization's suggestion system without being a nuisance. Show yourself at meetings as someone who has plenty of good ideas about the company, its growth, and its products.

• Use greeting cards or notes to compliment people on anniversaries, retirement, anniversaries, promotions, get well cards, birthdays.

Turn Your Boss Into Your Sponsor

Sit down with your boss and find out what he or she expects of you—and develop ways to meet those expectations. Do more than is expected. Your boss must see you as someone valuable to the company—practically indispensable. Make your boss's job easier by looking for ways to provide extra help.

Show Pride in Your Work

Perform tasks so well that you'll be proud to sign your name to them. Put your name on whatever you can—reports, committee minutes, proposals and correspondence—whenever you're involved. When you're part of a task force, let other people—especially your boss—know your role in the project

Stay Visible

You'll rarely anywhere sitting quietly in your office just doing your own work. Without jeopardizing your work goals, get yourself on committees or task forces. Give your boss and others a constant stream of ideas that will solve problems. Talk to people about your ideas, or send them memos--whichever they prefer. Keep people informed about what you're doing.

Help Others to Look Good

Start with your boss and fellow employees. Look for ways to praise them openly and honestly in front of others. Support them. Accept the differences in peoples' habits, values, work styles. We like to be around people who make us feel good about ourselves. Meet the deadlines that others expect of you--to show you're someone they can depend on.

Gain Acceptance of Your Associates

You can't force your way into a promotion. You need political support of those you work with. This doesn't mean trying to be popular with everyone, but being respected for your accomplishments and the way you handle people. To get ahead in your career, you must be clearly perceived a leader—someone people normally turn to for direction and ideas when they want to accomplish something.

Build Support From Your People

People who work with you must really support you. If they don't, they'll find ways of telling others about it and upper management will soon find out that you don't have their support. Praise them frequently, and ask for a change in behavior gently. However, don't overlook their errors for the sake of popularity. If you let them fail and not point out how they can do better, they'll lose respect for you. Then you'll fail as well.