Getting noticed is the key

Imagine this – during the last one year or so, there were several positions that opened up in your organization and you could have easily got into any one of them. You applied, but you didn’t and instead some others from within and outside did. Some new entrants with less than even six months service made it to a senior position.

Why were you left out?  Perhaps you didn’t get noticed at the correct time. Now that whatever had to happen happened, can you do anything to preclude another chance to whizz past you? Something needs to be done by you to get spotted for promotion.

Five common idealized and exaggerated beliefs that can prevent you from having a worthwhile and satisfying career are discussed in the succeeding paragraphs.

·   I too put in my bit: If you work hard, it does not necessarily imply that all rewards, prizes and incentives are yours too. You need to periodically discover newer ways and means to honk your presence and existence. But, it has to be for good work done. Has there been an instance in the recent past when you got a pat on your back? You need to get into limelight. You need to be recognized by your boss. Your name should find mention in the company bulletin. And when it does happen, get yourself a small memento to simply let you recap of that great achievement. Seniors, peers and subordinates will ask and even compliment you for it. Make certain that its significance and facts are put across to them.

·   The old man knows:  Your boss would not know what is in your mind. How will he ever fathom that you want to move up? So, being presumptuous will never help. What is required to be done is reclining back and imagine how exactly you would like your job to develop and get bigger. There is absolutely no harm in meeting the boss and running through your aims. Unless you have been able to elicit his espousal, do not call the meeting off. “I am sure that you will help me” ought to be the assertion that you should put across. It may appear to be sweet-talk, but the fact is that sans the boss’ encouragement and acquiescence, moving ahead is difficult.

·   My friends are not contestants:  Any view to the contrary will be correct. Career and business do not go hand in hand with friendship and companionship – this tenet needs to be registered in the mind. It is noble and impressive to appreciate friends alright, but one should also not get sidetracked by loose talk. Be alert and on the lookout. If you don’t, there are chances that someone else may walk away with the booty.  

·   Openings are posted on the notice-board:  Workplace gossip conveys everything because inspired leaks are never discounted. Do not indulge in rumour mongering but keep your eyes and ears open. Building friends and knowing people in divisions other than yours can be of immense help; such people can provide early information about what’s on in their sections. A mere exchange of pleasantry does wonders. However, one should make it a point to not hang around talking to all and sundry because that would send signals of an idler. A reputation of having no purpose would also be construed as synonymous with a guy disinterested in organizational progress.

·   I should avoid my boss’ peers:  This may be right and wrong. In case the boss is not very proficient, he may take offence. It all depends on your motives; if you prefer to work in a particular section, there is no harm in getting close to people who matter there. Exhibiting interest in developments there is alright. There is no harm in occasionally joining in enthusiastically with a task or activity, but without affecting your own work. Should your job be interfered with, your boss may not appreciate you at all.

The underlying factor is to take part and not simply be a spectator in your career. Some “Dos” and “Don’ts” are:

·   Work hard and do it with sincerity; also work to get noticed.

·   Make your aspirations known to your boss because without his assent nothing can move ahead.

·   Never take your friends for granted; they too can be in the race.

·   Look out for word-of-mouth publicity because new organizational openings are seldom advertised.

·   Be cognizant of what is happening in the establishment as a whole and make useful contributions outside the extent of your work; this will boost your image.

So start displaying an on-the-go concern in your work. Sooner or later, you will get noticed and the coveted promotion will come your way.  

Open Door Policy at Work

An open door policy at work implies a work culture that is friendly, transparent and uniform for all members of the staff, irrespective of their class and grades. It facilitates freedom to exchange ideas and suggestions at and between all levels of the chain of command. As a result, employee tribulations are resolved ably and speedily; and in the process, the degree of job satisfaction and productivity registers an upward swing. Besides the leadership structure being rendered more efficient, the employee lot feels elated with their individual guts and capability to resolve predicaments getting a boost.

How does it function?

Open door policy at work calls for on par and evenly balanced inputs from each and every stratum of the organization. Every individual is required to put his or her communications and suggestions with due diligence; the encouraging part of the matter is that there happens to be no intercession or veto by one-up in the chain of command.

The above notwithstanding, there also ought to be a permissible restriction to preclude employees from crossing limits and not being able to approach inopportunely higher echelons of power, who, in any case will not be in a position to even contemplate on demands that may be put up, leave aside meeting them.

To illustrate the point being made, suppose if a support services staff approaches the managing director of a company to seek a pay rise, the effort may not be apt because the managing director is not chartered to look after such issues. On the contrary, the employee can well meet his supervisor or line manager to seek a favourable resolution of his grievance.

There are quite a few managers who opine that an open door policy does not encourage transparency and uphold openness. On the contrary, it makes the system more shoddy and slack. It needs noting that if an immediate supervisor is unable to redress an employee’s grievance, the affected individual has all the freedom to approach a higher up. The arrangement, they feel brings to light an absence of mutual confidence between subordinates and seniors. 

In order to reduce communication gaps, all establishments should, from the very start embark upon programmes to train and prepare their managerial cadres so that they are able to validate the appointments that they hold. Furthermore, open door policy at work would usher in greater and better functional tools for the subordinates and seniors alike. The juniors would be able to solve their problems and make their seniors cognizant of the same. Needless to state, the seniors would carry out introspection and improve upon their management and negotiation techniques. The result evidently will be an ‘everybody benefits’ state of affairs in the setup.

Putting it in operation      

Having understood what an open door policy at work is and how it functions, the question is putting it into action. Some practical ways of executing it and in the process boosting output levels by inspiring employees are:

·   Amenability to ingenuity:  To say that a manager should know everything amounts to being presumptuous and to an extent, even impudent. He just cannot know and also be in the know of every development or course of action that he may have been employed for. He has to, therefore, have an open mind and be acquiescent to fresh and even revolutionary suggestions from his subordinates. If he does so, the employees will come forward to make him aware of their requirements and manage them to the satisfaction of all.   

·   Acknowledge good work done:  Employees are not slaves, they are human beings first. Should any of them make a noteworthy contribution, he or she deserves a sign of approbation. And a show of approval should come for even small things. Whatever they deserve should be given with pleasure and positive reception. It should be remembered that small gestures of admiration have more potency that large pecuniary awards. 

·   Superior listening skills:  Before exploring into any problem area, one should be fully aware of what it is, the causative factors and its magnitude. Unless you get to the bottom of the problem, there is no way that you will be able to resolve it. And getting to the bottom of a problem entails hearing patiently what others feel or have to say. Listening by itself may not be enough, what is of significance is to comprehend and register what others have to say. All this implies possession of superior listening skills; it is only if a manager has them that he would in due course be able to work out a logical and acceptable way out.

·   Informal dialogues:  There is no better way to feel the pulse of the employees than carrying out spontaneous and pre-meditated appraisals. By simply indulging in a relaxed tête-à-tête with the employees, their contentment vis-à-vis their job and the organization can be gauged. If there happens to be any reluctance to open up, it should be seen as something aberrant and warranting looking into.

There are instances when managers are not competent to handle human resources in a manner that they are supposed to be done. Whether the leadership of their organizations appreciate this or not is a different matter; there may be compulsions of employment or other factors. Under such circumstances, employees have a right to talk about their problems with people higher up in the hierarchy. Should the situation go out of control, the concerned manager should be proceeded against, even if it necessitates bringing in somebody else.

Open door policy at work makes possible a concordant and tuneful chain of command and renders it more fruitful and dynamic. In the bargain, every staff echelon gets to have an opening where they can have a say in organizational matters, besides improving the interaction criterion that prevail therein.

Handling workplace relationships

          At any workplace, relationships, professional or private, are bound to be built. But the trap in such relationships is the issue of sustenance because the prospects of career success and failure on account of them are equal. Therefore, it is important to deliberate on some aspects of workplace relationships so that they do not ricochet.

            It is a fact that it is the workplace where we exhibit our expertise and knacks. It is also true that work is just not an arithmetical activity or all about finding middle ground – something that we consciously or unconsciously are aware of. Work, working and workplace also involve relationships with seniors, peers and subordinates on one side and clients and customers on the other alike.

            Workplace relationships are generally confined to professional matters. However, in recent times, people have been establishing emotional ties too – this should not be viewed as a flabbergasting development because of the human element involved in it. An aspect that cannot be downplayed is the reality that the workplace is a happening place for us and emotional proximities cannot be ruled out for obvious reasons. While camaraderie is most wanted by every establishment, romances and flirtatious relationships are always frowned upon and regarded as contrary to decent behavior.

Relationships have to be active and forceful

If you attain organizational objectives, your performance is rated good. But it is not your abilities alone that contribute to good performance. It is how others look at and opine about your persona that matters also. Five time-tested methods to portray a good impression are:

·   Be easy to talk with:  Expertise and proficiency notwithstanding, you need to be accessible to others. According first priority to work and making it known to the environment is good, however a disengagement from it can be a blunder. Should others require your assistance, go out of the way to help them. You should desist from probing into matters that are delicately personal.

·   Lay down limits:  If you are approachable, you will be thronged by people. Professional dilemmas, irrespective of their gravity are acceptable however personal ones need to be addressed with caution. You must send an unambiguous message about your willingness to help others professionally. The secret to emerging a winner at workplace is clobbering a compromise between personal and professional issues.

·   Do not gossip:  Communications at workplace are indeed necessary, but not loose talks. Tittle-tattles are scandalous and can cause immense damage, besides frittering away valuable time, Any conversation drifting towards gossip should be nipped in the bud and converted it into constructive talk. But if things fail, it is recommended that a tactful withdrawal from the scene be affected.

·   Trust trustworthy:  Adherence to only a professional relationship is easier said than done. It is just not possible to completely refrain from communications that are outside the realm of professional ethics. Because we are humans, we are expressive and thus may have colleagues with whom intimate friendship is nurtured, but their sincerity needs to be ascertained. Proverbial snakes in the sleeves should be avoided.

·   Shoulder additional tasks willingly: If you feel that you can shoulder additional responsibilities or be a party to resolve workplace problems, go ahead and do so, even if it amounts to extra effort from your side. But it should also be kept in mind that your aims and objectives remain unaffected. By doing so, people further up the ladder will acknowledge your efforts and recognize you as a positive contributor towards organizational progress.

Amorous affairs

            Unconfirmed statistics indicate that over a quarter of employees at any workplace get into a relationship. Though inevitable, as already stated, the question is, are they out of harm’s way? There are two major negative aspects associated with workplace affairs, should they crumble. Firstly, a split can cause immense psychological harm to both partners. Secondly and more importantly is the detrimental effect it can have on their careers. Both of them cannot be ignored.

There have been occasions when people had to resign from highly rewarding jobs because of the discomfiture associated with love affair splits. It is thus no surprise that wise men recommend that a line be drawn to preclude personal issues from permeating into professional matters.

            A relationship can be true and sincere; the partners can be committed to each other. But can you prevent some people from scandalizing you? Besides jeopardizing individual reputation, there is also the risk of being viewed as a violator of organizational ethics. Where people have an affair with their seniors, their success, even if it is a result of hard work, has a tendency to be doubted.

One needs to be extremely cautious and alert about such relationships, more so in the light of the likelihood of their being applied as accusations of gender offences. If a relationship is found fit to be advanced, both partners need to go along with the idea that they will restrict themselves to only professional work at the workplace. It would also be prudent to even deliberate on the possibility of the relationship breaking and consequently the diminished prospects of working together.  

The last word

What is important is that despite the type of relationships that people may enjoy, a correct reflection of oneself should never be dispensed with. It is only then that success will plant a kiss on your career.

             

Understand others & stand out

            You need to have a correct discernment of others as also of how they see you. It helps in being more constructive and dynamic with your career growth and advancement. It also serves to prompt you to concentrate on issues that matter and gain insight into them, just in case you are not very or familiar with them.

            How do you go about to making out yourself and others? It is all about having necessary qualities and refining them; of course your own nature and temperament has a role to play in the process. Here are some guidelines:

·   Principled stand:  It is of no consequence where you employ this tenet, but it does make you understand what others feel of you. By following set values, you will be able to derive satisfaction from your actions and in the process also get admiration from others who get to recognize you and your intentions. Sticking to principles manifest honesty and honour as also steadiness and reliability. These attributes facilitate your forward movement. In addition, they help in fostering mutual confidence in every association that you create.

·   Communication skills: These two words are synonymous with interaction; it implies an exchange of ideas. To be able to have mastery over the communication process, you will need to engage people with yourself – by spoken and written mediums. For this, you also need to acquire good listening skills. You will be able to inspire others with your communications.

·   Premeditated objectives:   Aims and objectives are necessary to attain anything that you long for. Therefore, fixing them and more importantly pursuing them sincerely are vital components of any activity, including career progression. You need to have a clear statement of intent for reaching your target. The statement per se is a momentous ideation to define your career path, vision and inspiration for success.

·   Venturing risks:  It is human tendency to keep oneself secured as much as possible. People are reluctant to venture out and play with risks. Life has no meaning if it is all about mundane things; you do not progress if you are of a my-horse-also-ran category. You need to be dynamic, take initiative and take chances. Of course, taking chances have the likelihood of disappointments and fiascos, but failures are stepping stones to success.

·   Lending a helping hand:   If you come to the assistance of others, you instantaneously build an association with them. You are able to share your knowledge, which can be gainfully made use of by them. Be it knowledge or anything else, any act of sharing speaks of bighearted and openhanded individual quality. If you help others, your assistance comes back to you in some form or the other.  

·   Consideration:  You need to be thoughtful and understanding vis-à-vis others. You need to have a concern for others. If you are an empathetic person, you are more liable to strike a chord with others. Once this happens, the gates of the doors to exchange ideas are flung wide open; you build truthful and honourable relationships. You also get to identify newer opportunities to lend a helping hand.

·   Skill upgrading:  You have capabilities and vulnerabilities, you have strengths and weaknesses. Your capabilities and strengths have to be improved upon; and vulnerabilities and weaknesses have to be overcome. If you achieve this, you are better qualified and emerge as better poised to take on professional challenges. You should aim to become a specialist in your own field; this will afford you opportunities to display your skills. 

·   Humbleness:   It is but human to brag, particularly if you have hit the news or have some success to your credit. This tendency is deviously perilous and can impact others in a very unconstructive manner. To say that it by a long shot, will be regarded as self-approbation or blowing one’s own trumpet will not be stating the untruth. This perhaps is the reason why a self-effacing disposition is vital to progressing by leaps and bounds. Humbleness precludes you from publicizing your attainments; as a result, you acknowledge the performance of others too.

·    Positivity:   All leaders are optimistic and upbeat. They have an encouraging disposition that serves to stimulate others. A constructive mindset together with adequate controls by itself is a very potent implement in life; coupled with positivity and enthusiasm, one can achieve possibly anything. Your passion and zeal will remain ignited and never run short of energy to see you through arduous moments. More significantly, positivity will help you remain concentrated on your aims and objectives.

·   Liaison:   Interpersonal relationships are the best things ever known in the human history. They facilitate taking steps forward towards growth and development. Your associations do offer you ways and means to give a helping hand, to share experiences and to convey sentiments. Not one, not two, but several roads open up for you make a choice and move forward confidently. What is necessary is to view people as entities and not pronounce any verdict on their capabilities or any other attribute.

·   New tasks:  People who bestow and confer are always remarkable. So give and look forward to zilch. You should derive pleasure in presenting to others what you have. It can be immensely advantageous because such a quality is perceived as a leadership trait. It makes evident your inclination to accept fresh tasks and prove your worth. You should take a fast decision accepting a new responsibility, particularly when others are reluctant to do so. Volunteering for a work implies contributing more than what you are otherwise supposed to do, so the outcome can be gauged very well.

·   Output:  This need to be boosted, both in the context of your career progression and life. The best way to do so is by making full use of the time at your disposal. You should discard issues that are insignificant and devote time to discern your craze and enthusiasm in life. While at work, you have to work and do nothing else. You should try to portray an image of yourself of a conscientious, industrious and result-oriented individual.

            The high peak of knowledge is perfect self-knowledge; it arms you with the capability to learn from your success, blunders and failures. Unless you understand yourself, you will never be able to understand anybody else. And you will never be able to understand anybody else unless you consider things from his point of view. If you understand this simple fact, your career graph is poised to show an upward trend.