Tempesta & Associates, Inc. - Directing Your Career Through "Self-Promotion"

Directing Your Career Through 'Self-Promotion'

written by: Kathy Bornheimer

Many people tend to be too humble when "promoting" themselves. They see it as bragging or fear that they'll be viewed as arrogant. However, people who are too quiet about letting the right people know about their abilities or accomplishments often are overlooked for those great jobs or projects.

All companies have basic goals for their survival or success. These include; safety, profit, quality, productivity, and maintenance of their corporate culture or structure.

People are hired with these goals in mind. Organizations develop strategies via, compensation, employee involvement or continuous improvement to achieve these goals. Often the tools used are employee opinion surveys; job descriptions and employee appraisal formats.

A good system will assist in developing and improving your skills. Sometimes employee assessment tools can be faulty or inadequate. When an individual is seeking new or better employment these tools can be hinder rather than help. Take a look at your current or past employers rating system.

Are the ratings administered consistently and in a timely manner?
How is compensation linked with performance?
How are the assessment questions and responses worded?
Is there a numerical ranking paired with narrative and are they compatible?

A well-constructed evaluation should contain:

Behavior based questions and responses (observable behaviors and responses that are demonstrative)
Wording that's positive and direct
Sections for a follow-up plan (including time line) feed back solutions or projected actions
Self- evaluation sections for that employee

If your current employers system lacks the above or is flawed start developing a strategy for yourself. First of all don't be a "martyr". Take ownership or responsibility for failures and successes. Be visible to the power structure in your successes. Create paper trails; don't rely on memory: yours or others. Some of your early situations maybe critical. Establish a system of documentation to provide feedback, objectives or supportive information. Memos of meetings, project deadlines project status or successful completions to supervisors or co-workers can help people "remember" what you've accomplished or what their responsibilities are. Always maintain copies for yourself with the original going to the most key individual.

Address issues when they occur. Don't let negative situations go unattended; learn how to confront with finesse. Above all, empower yourself; practice continuous improvement to benefit, your current employer or your next employer.

All of this organization and documentation will be vital during your performance evaluation or annual review. You can not always rely on your supervisor's memory or documentation in his/her preparation of this process. You'll actually be helping them out and assist in providing information to increase accuracy. This way your evaluation will be reflective of your abilities, skills and contribution to your job and employer.

Some key areas to begin and follow in this process include:

First choose the right employer and know the rules.
Identify key players early (positive and negative) at all levels of the organization
Find and listen to the "grapevine" but minimize participation (you want to be in the loop but not be a gossip).
Be an idea person, a problem solver and lead by example; thus building a positive reputation.
Refine your oral and written communication skills.
Establish your expertise within your profession or job (be good at what you do!).
Choose your battles carefully, be realistic and play to win.
Have a plan and it's back up; having an alternative to number one could save you grief or disappointment.
Avoid the "Negative Nannies". They'll suck the energy out of the best people.
Chose your support staff carefully if you are a supervisor, project leader or manager.
Find ways to make other peoples job easier
Be consistent without being predictable
Do everything with "style" to increase your credibility.

You'll be able to position yourself for success. You'll develop a reputation of quality of performance to ensure good salary increases and good job progression. This system will carry you through the duration if your career since it benefits you and your employer.

Tempesta & Associates, Inc.
6525 North Green Bay Road
Milwaukee, WI 53209

414-967-9250