I got asked in a Coaching session recently whether they had to become one of those “political” people to get ahead at work. I think we need to be careful what we mean by being “political”. Some people take it to the extreme, and start clambering up that greasy pole chucking anyone off who gets in their way, but actually the better way to do this would just be to think smarter about what you do. It is something which comes more easily to some than others, but here are some things to think about in that “political” career life:
- Build a strong working relationship with your boss. They are higher up the pecking order than you, and so have more direct access to people higher up the organisation. Ensure your boss is “on side” and remember you need to manage this relationship well for this to be effective for you going forward
- Some people don’t feel comfortable promoting themselves, but learning how to do this subtly, and under the radar will mean you can put yourself on the map. Think about regular update communication if your role warrants it, or use the chit chat at the start of a meeting before everyone arrives to let people know what you are up to. Build a list of your strengths, or even create your USP that you can use to market yourself in a way you feel comfortable with.
- You need to be able to navigate yourself effectively around the organisation you are working in, and be adaptable when the influencers change
- Build your network and sponsorship within an organisation. In addition, if you are leading a team, make sure they trust and respect you so that you all work together to achieve what you want to achieve in a collaborative and cooperative way. The secret is to work both upwards and downwards.
- Make sure you know who the people are above your boss who are the ones who will make the decisions about your career and be able to endorse what you do. You may not get to see them that often, so make sure you use any time you do interact with them wisely, by having a question or two ready to ask, or be willing to provide an update of how you and your team are getting on.
- You should have an interest and excitement for the business you are working within, otherwise you may eventually struggle to continue being enthusiastic about it going forward. Be visibly positive about the business, especially with those that matter within the organisation, both upwards and within your team.
- Remember to smile when at work - it really does relax your face muscles so you look happier to be there!
