Are you in the Promotion Pool—the high potential group that senior management is carefully watching? The 60 mentors interviewed for 7 Keys to a More Satisfying Future at Work found that new opportunities including promotions depended upon support from beyond your immediate boss or department leadership.
So how do you expand and enhance your reputation? In effect get into the “Pool”?
Here are additional ways that 7 Keys to a More Satisfying Future at Work Key 1: Get Connected and Get Noticed suggests.
• Volunteer for a community service project sponsored or supported by your organization. Erica volunteered to help organize a charity golf tournamentthat was co-sponsored by her company. She was able to get many additional sponsors and was noticed by a CEO from another company. He knew her CEO and told him how effective she had been. Her CEO barely knew Erica, but decided he needed to pay more attention to her work.
• Find a mentor, ideally from outside your current department. Rick was interacting with the Engineering Department as his sales team was curious about how their work effected the installation of new services. After a few joint meetings, he asked the Head of Engineering if they could talk about the issues regularly. That lead into discussions about career guidance.
• Are you connected with key people on Social-Media? Quality postings, sharing suggestions, responding to requests for assistance can enhance your reputation. But be careful what you post about personal things that may be only appropriate for your friends and family.
The book 7 Keys to a More Satisfying Future at Work has more details and the background stories from the 60 mentors—remember most of them began in very modest jobs and grew their careers into very satisfying and successful ones. Also remember the free resources…downloads (career assessment and career planning), apps and blog posts at your7keys.com.