At the end of every year, along with the television
advertising and Christmas music are the end of the year wrap-up shows. The best of…
The worst of… The top… This is not one of those articles. No. We
are going to focus on how to be more successful in 2008. While there are “silver bullets” when it
comes to success, following these steps will make nearly anyone more successful
that they would be otherwise. Whether
you work for a big or small company, a non-profit organization or even a
government institution, following these steps will but you in the company of
the leaders and top performers wherever you work and whatever you do for a
living.
Review Your Objectives
Most companies and organizations have their objectives down
to each employee either by the end of the year or by early in the New
Year. If you have input to the creation
of your objectives – that is great. Take
the opportunity very seriously and work on it with your boss. If you do not have input in your objectives,
make sure you go over them with you boss and understand exactly:
·
What is expected of you
·
What are the measures
·
How often you are measured
·
Who determines whether you meet your objectives
·
What is quantitative and what is qualitative
This may take several sessions with your supervisor. These are the most important meetings you
will attend during the entire year. And
always make sure that you have it in writing and that your boss signs and dates
your objectives. Otherwise, she may say
they were preliminary or they changed and you will have nothing to prove
otherwise.
Understand Your Compensation
Plan
Understanding your compensation plan – even if you are on
salary rather than a sales or other leveraged compensation plan is a important
as reviewing your objectives. Many
compensation plans include salary, individual bonus, and team award and if
there is stock – some form of stock option awards. Review with your supervisor how the
compensation plan works, is driven and what determines if you get a raise and
how much, if you get a bonus and how much and so on. Do not accept someone pointing you to a Human
Resources web site. It is important that
you AND your supervisor understand how you will be rewarded for your success
(beyond certificates and a pat on the back).
Be the Expert
No matter your functions or your level in the organization,
make sure you know more about your area of expertise than anyone else. If someone comes to you to answer a question
or solve a problem and your plead ignorance – they won’t come back again. You may have heard that “no one likes a
know-it-all”. Well that is NOT the case
when it comes to your professional. You
are paid to know it all. And you must
know all of that for your business or organization and more to be successful.
Find a Mentor
Companies and other organizations are on and off about
formal mentoring programs. If your
company has a formal mentoring program and you do not have a mentor – then ask
your supervisor why and take whatever steps are necessary to get one. Even better, find someone at least two levels
above your organizationally, someone who is respected and successful, and meet
with them to discuss their becoming your mentor. Realize a good mentoring relationship will
take time for both of you. If the person
responds “no” you can either move on or be persistent. But regardless, you need to have what the
Navy calls “a sea Daddy” to help you along with your career. From their perspective – and their network –
they will see things that you will not be able to view.
Network
The larger the company or organization, the more they
discount networking – except within the organization (such as between
departments, divisions or operating units).
I contend – from personal experience – that networking OUTSIDE of your
company or organization is essential.
Whether you are in a technical field, sales, marketing, operations, IT
or non-profit management, meeting and building relationships with others in
your field and outside of your company or organization is absolutely
essential. Attend functions, participate
on committees and offer to help others who are in your professional
network. Apart from education and hard
work, this is one of the best investments that you can make toward success.
Take Part in a Special Project
The words “Special Project” bring chills to many people who
work for large companies or organizations.
It often is viewed as additional work outside of your normal
(objectives) role without additional compensation. For these very reasons, may people avoid
special project assignments like the plague.
I argue that special assignments can be vital along the road of success
within nearly any organization. There
are certain considerations though.
Do:
·
Actively participate.
·
Do take on a role related to your area of
expertise.
·
Do make sure the project is vital to the
success, future and growth of the business or organization (e.g.
business-critical)
·
Do provide weekly updates to your boss and
ideally her boss.
·
Do provide a full read-out on completion of the
project to your leadership team.
·
Do make sure the project leader documents your
contributions to the most senior person in your organization
Don’t:
·
Lead a special project unless you are
temporarily relieved of your normal job responsibilities. It is a full time job.
·
Fill-in OUTSIDE of your expertise.
·
Help out with parties, recognition events,
sports functions or other events not critical to the business or organization’s
success.
·
Use the special assignment as an excuse for your
boss to forget about you.
·
Allow the special project leader to tell you she
is providing a verbal report to your higher ups.
·
Allow your boss or anyone else to take credit
for your contributions to the success of the special project.
Success is viewed by many as a matter of luck. And by others as the result of hard
work. Luck plays a role. Hard work is essential. But so are focusing on those things which are
recognized and are the day-to-day differentiators in any company or
organization. By focusing on those,
success can – and will – be yours in 2008.
