Friday, March 6, 2009

SELF PROMOTION ESSENTIAL TO MAKE YOURSELF RELEVANT IN THE PINK SLIP ERA

There are any number of reasons why you should advertise the value you deliver to your unit and your company. But mastering the delicate art of selling yourself isn't easy. Overdo the self-promotion, and you can get a reputation as a grandstander. But duck the limelight, and you miss out on well-deserved plaudits.



Following are some examples of managers who learned how to put themselves and their good work forward--without putting others off.

NETWORK THROUGH WORDS AND DEEDS

Build a network of appreciative associates and bosses, not just by communicating with them, but by taking on tasks for them and following through on projects with them. Effective networks are simply mutual obligations between people. Show your boss and others in decision-making positions that you can get things done through others. Show them you're connected.

TAKE A STAND AGAINST CREDIT THEFT

Don't steal credit that belongs to another, and do all you can to prevent others from stealing credit that rightly belongs to you. As in sports, a good offense is often the best defense against credit theft, Instead of directly confronting a credit hog--usually a futile enterprise--frequently inform the boss in meetings, emails, and informal chats about your role in the team's recent coup and your ideas for future successes.

DON'T BRUSH OFF COMPLIMENTS

When the team leader compliments you on the job you did organizing the client meeting, don't brush it off with an "Oh, it was really nothing." Say how much the recognition means to you. Acknowledge the good effort you gave. And add something worthwhile that underscores the importance of the contribution you made. "I think it's really important that these meetings are a valuable experience for our clients," you might say, or "I put a lot of advance work into that new technology panel, so it was really rewarding to see the clients so engaged in the session."

OVERCOME PHYSICAL DISTANCE
If you telecommute, you might worry about losing out to a rival who has his face before the vice president every day. Even if you don't work from your home, you might need to cultivate someone whose office is 3,000 miles away. Today's technology, makes it far easier than in the past to self-promote from a distance. Stay on someone's radar through e-mail, voice messages, and the occasional phone call.
When contact is infrequent, people tend to think the worst about you or, even worse, think nothing about you at all."

MAKE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS KNOWN TO OTHERS BESIDES YOUR BOSS

Some might think it sufficient to earn their supervisor's appreciation; after all, he is the one with the most impact on a report's evaluation, raise, and the other rewards of work. But the savviest strategists understand the importance of self-promoting to an even higher level, as well as horizontally to other units and their managers.
Your boss's boss might be in a better position than your direct supervisor to give you a promotion or plum assignment. And a manager who shares rank with you today might be in a position of greater decision-making power tomorrow.

Hope you liked this article. I will be happy if my audience expresses its opinions and insights on this subject and contribute to the improvement in quality of this article.

Best Wishes,

Shyam 

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