Pushing Down or Lifting Up - MAC091
Managing A Career
Throughout our careers, we observe others around us getting ahead by various means. Some people do so by putting other people down in order to make themselves look better whereas others do so by lifting those around them up. You may have even used these techniques yourself. The secret? Both approaches can work, but only one is sustainable for the long term. Let's take a look at the longer term impact of each. Whether intentionally or not, some people will try to advance their careers by pushing those around them down. These people will...
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What Managers Look for When They're Secretly Deciding Who To Let Go - MAC090
Managing A Career
More often that you realize, when a manager is asked to create a list of people to lay off, they are rarely given much time to think about it; they are just given a target number and a deadline. When they have to react quickly, there a few criteria that they instinctively use to determine who goes and who stays. What can you do to make sure that you aren't on that list? The first thing to realize is that there are no short term fixes. The steps to take to protect your job start TODAY. In Episode 068 (), I cover some techniques that can help you identify...
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Aligning With Fast-Track Projects - MAC089
Managing A Career
Last week, in Episode 088 (), I covered the four key project types that can fast-track your career advancement. This week, I'm going to cover some strategies for when your current project assignment is not on one of those fast-track type projects. So, to review, the four fast-track project types are strategic projects aligned to organizational goals, cross-functional projects that impact multiple teams, projects tied to revenue generation or expense reduction, and finally, projects that are in trouble. If you find yourself assigned to a project in any combination of those...
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Fast Track Projects - MAC088
Managing A Career
When it comes to career advancement, some projects have a bigger impact than others. How can you make sure that you're associated with the projects that give you the best chance at success? When you look at the types of projects that are undertaken within your organization, four key types will garner the most recognition and opportunities for advancement. This week, I'll take a look at what these project types are. Next week, I'll cover what you can do if your assignments don't fall into one of these four categories. The type of project that is going to...
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Language Matters - MAC087
Managing A Career
In Episode 085 (), I covered techniques to build confidence. This week I'd like to talk about how you can use the words you say to project that confidence to those around you. When you speak with others, in order to project confidence, you should pay attention to the negative qualifiers that you use when stating your ideas. Those negative qualifiers typically fall into five categories. They can undermine your ideas such as "I think". They can undermine your self such as "Sorry" or "I could be wrong, but…". They can undermine your audience such as finishing with...
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Leadership Portfolio - MAC086
Managing A Career
On this podcast, I cover topics that can help you advance your career. In simple terms, this means putting yourself in the best possible position to be considered for a promotion. But, sometimes the next transition is from an individual to management role. This week, I cover a technique where you can document your leadership skills as you prepare for that change. When it comes to capturing the results of your work as an individual, I've covered several different methods. In Episode 044 (), I cover how to report status to various audiences showing the value that...
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Confidence Builds Confidence - MAC085
Managing A Career
Back in Episode 083 () I talked about how Imposter Syndrome and Fear of Failure can derail your plans for career advancement. This week, I'd like to take a deeper dive at Confidence. Confidence, at it's very basic, is the believe that you will succeed in the current situation. Confidence is not arrogance; but they can be two side of the same coin. The biggest difference between Confidence and Arrogance is how others react to you and how you treat those around you. When you are confident, you state your case assertively but with respect. If you are...
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Own the Problem, Bring Solutions - MAC084
Managing A Career
The other day on LinkedIn, there was a post () by Lena Reinhard, host of the Leadership Confidential podcast (), about the saying "don't bring me problems, bring me solutions". That post got me thinking. In her post, Lena () expresses that she is not a fan of that phrase because it make the target of the statement feel like they are left to do all of the work themselves. Her suggestion is clarification through communication. Does your boss really expect you to solve the problem on your own or how you can align the way you work and ask for help with the way that they...
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Faking It - MAC083
Managing A Career
There's been a lot of talk recently about "Imposter Syndrome". The term was coined by psychologists - Dr. Pauline Clance and Dr. Suzanne Imes in the late 1970s, but seems to be mentioned in so many different places the past few years. Having imposter syndrome is a very common experience in that most people experience some form of imposter syndrome at least once in their career. Imposter Syndrome is most prevalent when you take a new role. Self-doubt starts creeping in as you compare yourself to those around you. You may feel like you need to work extra hard to...
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Quiet Firing - MAC082
Managing A Career
Recently, companies have been in cost cutting mode. The most obvious result of this cost cutting, at least when it comes to your career, is that companies have been laying off large numbers of workers across all industries. But these very same companies are starting to balk at the negative press associated with "yet another layoff". This week, I take a look at the subtle ways that companies continue to reduce their headcount in a less public manner. Return to Office Mandates During COVID, social distancing and stay at home orders lead many to resort to remote...
info_outlineBack in Episode 029 (https://www.managingacareer.com/29), I talked about how to build your network. In that episode, I suggested that you can attend meet-ups and conferences to expand your network. And then, through the connections you have, you can find ways to get connected to others that can help you learn and grow.
But networking isn't just about how other people can help you. It should be a reciprocal relationship. With the state of the job market right now and so many professionals finding themselves laid off from jobs they may have had for years, now is the perfect time for you to use the resources and connections you have to help others.
Spend time going through your list of connections on LinkedIn and see who has the "Open To Work" banner enabled or who has recently posted about looking for a job. Do you remember how you're connected to them? Do you remember what they know about or what they do?
Reach out to each of the people on your list. If it has been a while since you've connected, spend some time catching up. As you reconnect, provide them with emotional support. Remind them of the things that you liked about interacting with them. Play up their strengths. Losing a job is stressful and demoralizing. Being available to talk and boosting their confidence can go a long way to helping even if just to lift someone's spirits.
If you have experience with the hiring and interview process, you might also offer to review their resume and LinkedIn profile or to provide interview practice for them. It can be difficult to know why you aren't getting jobs when you just hear the "no". By offering to give them constructive feedback, it can help them break past the screeners and possibly even land a job.
If there are people in your connections that have the "Hiring" banner up or have recently posted openings at their company, offer to provide introductions to contacts that they do not know. By becoming a connector, you are reinforcing your value to both parties. Not only does this help them now, but it will help keep you in mind when they have other opportunities in the future.
Not everyone you are connected to has an "Open To Work" or "Hiring" banner on their profile. When you see good or interesting job postings, share them on social media. If someone is unhappy with their job and is secretly looking, it will bring the jobs you post about into their focus. They may even reach out to you allowing you to be able to provide some of the other means of support.
You can also share the profile of someone looking for work and highlight their strengths. The benefit of a network isn't always the direct connections. Sometimes it's the friend of a friend of a friend that winds up having the solution to the problem.
So, to recap. If you want to strengthen your network, you should look for opportunities to help others and not just look at your network as something to use. Taking actions to help those in your network will have payback in the future when you really need it. With the current state of the job market, this is a great time to invest in your network by helping others find a job. Offer emotional support. Help them with the application and interview process. Be a connector. What you will find is that if you help someone find a new job, it can build some very strong connections. It can also lead to new connections for YOUR network.
Networking is a two-way street. It's one of the reasons that I started this podcast. I invest my time in creating each weeks' episode because I want to share the things that I've learned throughout my career and offer content that helps you on your own personal journey. Word of mouth is one of the strongest methods for spreading the word because it builds on the trust that you already have created. If you found this episode -- or any other episode -- to be helpful, share it with your network. Help me grow my audience through your network.