Promote yourself to propel yourself

If this sounds like an invitation to play trills on your own trumpet, you need to think again. Larina Kase makes a very valid point when she says: ‘We need to overcome the fear of self-promotion because research has shown that visibility and connections are the most powerful predictors of promotions. This means that you can be the best person in the world at what you do, but if your results are the world’s best kept secret, you will be too.’ 

If you blow your own trumpet, you are seen as a bragger. So? Have someone else blow your trumpet and one of the best ways to ensure that this happens is to find a business need within your organization and fill it – and do a good job. Then people will notice you and do your bragging for you.

Gain Composure and Keep Control over your Emotions

This is all about emotional intelligence – or lack of it. I believe not enough time and effort is devoted to developing your emotional quotient (EQ), which unlike IQ, can be developed – with effort. Out of control emotions – or absence of EQ – can be major problems for leaders, and Kase hints that without developed EQ, it is impossible to be a confident leader. Bear in mind that your emotional balance as a leader will have a marked effect on the emotional reactions of your team members.

As Kase suggests: ‘The emotional task of leaders is primal (first) in two senses: It is both the original and the most important act of leadership. The emotions of leaders are contagious. You can have a positive – or negative impact on the performance of others.’

What is EQ? No space to discuss at length here, but key skills include:

  • Self-awareness
  • Self-management
  • Social awareness
  • Relationship management

Having consulted to an organization where a key manager had the EQ of an underdeveloped gnat, I can vouch for the awful effects this had on the organization.

Stand Out! Be Different to get Better Results

Again, this may be a scary suggestion to follow. But, quoting Seth Goddin, Larina suggests that you don’t have to be beige, but you don’t have to be neon green either. Goddin proposed the concept of the purple cow.

One way to make yourself remarkable is by shocking people with how much value you deliver beyond their expectations, which is much more valuable than wearing odd socks or outlandish clothes.

There is a close link here between the first and third components in this posting. Promote yourself, and stand out, by being a superior performer. Superior performers get noticed – and have organizational promotion potential.

Stand by for the next posting

Bob