Not getting a promotion or finding yourself in a career plateau does not necessarily mean you're underperforming or lack potential. More often than not, competent employees are simply not proactively working on increasing their visibility, something that is crucial to differentiate themselves and, consequently, get promoted. If you can relate to this, then this is just the post for you.
Overall, being visible in your work allows you to increase your opportunities and potential for recognition and growth, and it also builds your positive reputation as a competent (and likeable) employee. So, how can you become more visible to your managers, and grow into the roles you aspire to?
Ways of building your visibility:
Find your voice:
Do not shy away from sharing your authentic ideas and solutions at work. Step away from the idea of being perfect, and allow yourself the opportunity to show how interested you are in your work, regardless of how innovative your comments are or whether they get rejected. It is important to remember that, if you are hardworking and good at your job, your input will certainly be valuable to your team and managers. Not doing so, can become counterproductive for your visibility and potential, as it can lead others into believing you are not interested in your work enough to contribute.
A good initial step to finding your voice can be to think of certain issues your company is facing, and mapping out ways of solving them. The ideas do not have to be world-changing. Focus on thinking strategically about these situations and practice problem-solving. This exercise alone will help you build the self-confidence needed to share your ideas more often. By doing so, you are also able to show your value in ways that do not come across as unauthentic.
Find ways of diplomatically stopping others from taking credit for your work:
This does not necessarily mean that your coworkers will go the extra mile to take credit for the work you have done (although it can certainly happen). Sometimes, it is done unconsciously and people might, for instance, present a project or task's progress that you were involved in, without mentioning your work specifically. You can counter this by saying something along the lines of: "My colleague has successfully covered their contributions to this project and how it is progressing. My contributions are/were..." This allows you to remain diplomatic and professional, keep workplace harmony, and still ensure that your contributions and work are visible to others. Similarly, if you are the one reporting the progress of a certain task, make sure to include all individuals' work, and help support their own work visibility.
Help your colleagues become more successful:
This shows your leadership and collaborative skills. Uplifting and supporting others makes you visible for managerial or team-leading roles, which naturally brings you a step closer to getting promoted.
By helping others, you also increase your influence and make yourself the go-to person that people can rely on for support. This not only portrays you as an individual people enjoy working with, but it also gives leeway into sponsorships from those around you who see your value as a professional.
This goes hand in hand with celebrating your team's successes. By doing so, you (1) make your and your team's work more visible, (2) motivate your team and make them feel appreciated, and (3) increase your image and status in the company.
Be your boss's supporter:
Make sure you know what kind of tasks your boss is involved in, or what challenges they might be facing. You can ask them directly about this (it shows proactivity). Plan your work according to the needs of your boss, and find ways to help reduce their workload. By helping your boss, and anticipating their needs, you deliver better results and exceed expectations. This also makes you stand out and possibly provides an opportunity for a valuable mentor in your career.
Build a network:
Connect with and work alongside colleagues who you admire and who have higher influence/status. By communicating your work and achievements to them, and supporting them whenever possible, these individuals will become more interested in your achievements and more likely to sponsor you when an opportunity for advancement arises.
These were some of the ways to become more visible and improve your chances of climbing the corporate ladder. Important takeaways from this are:
Ensure you communicate your achievements and make your managers aware of your value and what you bring to the table.
Focus on being a team player and supporting and uplifting others. This not only strengthens your reputation, but also makes you an authentic and likeable professional that others will want to work with.
Remember to pay it all forward to those around you.
Are you ready to increase your visibility at work?
This is our time. 🪑
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