The Only Thing That Lasts Is Relationships
You are easily replaceable!
If you die today…
This may come as a surprise to you. However, if you were to die today, you would probably be replaced at work before your funeral. That doesn’t mean your co-workers are heartless or that your boss is an evil genius. It is just a simple fact that life goes on.
You have probably experienced a work colleague leaving to join another company in a new and exciting opportunity. You went for drinks to celebrate with him or her to wish them well in their new career. However, within 2-3 weeks, the collective memory of that person has started to dwindle; somebody else is performing their old role, and perhaps you have a new colleague to get to know. Life goes on. When we lose a family member, eventually, life continues as normal, and the same applies in the corporate world. People come, and people go, and life continues.
The only thing that lasts is relationships.
“It would be best to strive to be someone others want to work with.”
Your network keeps you relevant
Your relationships with co-workers, immediate teammates, boss, people higher up the food chain, and people outside your immediate company, such as clients, suppliers, collaborators, and rivals. All these connections will outlast any skills you currently have.
Your network is the most powerful tool in your amour, and the most powerful skill you can develop is the ability to influence other people within your network.
People skills matter much more than you think. I would go as far as to say that in modern corporate culture, people skills are your most valuable tool. The most competent people do not get promoted. Your skills or abilities to perform a task have a shelf life, while your connections and relationships will and do last much longer. You are not entitled to a promotion because you are the most competent person in the room.
“Nobody owes you anything. You must make yourself indispensable to be recognised.”
Work without visibility is pointless
If no one knows the value you deliver, you might as well not do it.
In today’s competitive work environment, the value of your contributions is often assessed not just by the quality of your work but by how well others perceive it. Visibility in the workplace is critical for professional growth, team dynamics, and personal development. Without it, even the most diligent workers risk being overlooked, undervalued, or misunderstood.
The Pitfalls of Working in Silence
Imagine an employee who consistently meets deadlines, delivers exceptional work, and effectively supports their team. However, they avoid discussing their achievements or showcasing their contributions. Over time, their efforts may go unnoticed, leading to a lack of recognition and potential career stagnation. While modesty and humility are virtues, excessive reticence can be counterproductive.
In contrast, individuals who make their work visible ensure their efforts are recognised and contribute to the broader team’s understanding of progress, goals, and challenges. Visibility fosters alignment and mutual respect. Without it, the work you do might as well not exist in the eyes of your peers, managers, or clients
Self-Promotion
Self-promotion often has a negative connotation, conjuring images of arrogance or boastfulness. However, when done thoughtfully, it can become a strategic tool for career advancement. Effective self-promotion is about highlighting your contributions in a way that benefits yourself and your team and organisation.
For instance, regularly updating your manager on your progress, sharing success stories during team meetings, or even posting achievements on professional platforms like LinkedIn are all ways to enhance visibility. The key lies in framing your communication around the value you add rather than focusing solely on personal gain. This shift in perspective ensures that self-promotion remains professional and well-received.
The Fine Line Between Confidence and Arrogance
One of the greatest challenges in promoting your work is striking the right balance between confidence and humility. While it is important to communicate your accomplishments, doing so in a way that alienates or undermines others can be detrimental. The goal is not to overshadow your colleagues but to showcase how your contributions fit within the broader goals of your team and organisation.
Overcoming the Fear of Self-Promotion
Many professionals struggle with self-promotion due to fear—fear of appearing arrogant, fear of rejection, or even fear of stepping outside their comfort zone. This hesitation often stems from deeply ingrained beliefs about humility or a lack of confidence in one’s abilities. Overcoming these fears requires a mindset shift.
Start by reframing self-promotion as a necessary part of your professional responsibilities. Recognise that sharing your achievements is not about seeking validation but ensuring your contributions are understood and valued. To build confidence over time, practice communicating your accomplishments in low-stakes settings, such as informal conversations with colleagues.
The Role of Attitude in Professional Growth
Your attitude toward self-promotion and visibility plays a crucial role in your professional development. A reluctance to step into the spotlight can hinder your growth, while a proactive mindset can open doors to new opportunities. Reflect on how your current approach aligns with your career goals. Are you holding yourself back by remaining in your comfort zone? If so, it’s time to challenge those limitations. Changing your attitude requires self-awareness and intentionality.
Self-promotion is vital to be recognised for what you are worth. Communicating your achievements regularly, without sounding too boastful, is a people skill. Sitting in your comfort zone and being afraid to shine a spotlight on yourself is holding you back.
“Your attitude will continue to hold you back unless you change.”
The Broader Benefits of Visibility
Increasing your visibility is not just about personal recognition. It also has far-reaching benefits for your organisation. When individuals communicate their achievements, it enhances transparency, fosters trust, and contributes to a culture of accountability. Teams that understand each member’s contributions are more cohesive and effective.
Furthermore, visibility can inspire and motivate others. Sharing success stories provides valuable insights, sets benchmarks, and encourages a culture of excellence. By making your work visible, you contribute to a positive and productive work environment.
Opportunities will not find you
Instead, go out and take them. Create your own opportunities, don’t wait to be asked to do something, solve a problem before you’ve been asked to do it. Deliver beyond what is expected of you and others will start to recognise your value.
Most work tasks are dull, boring and unrewarding. However, you will never be asked to take part in a new and exciting project unless you have already demonstrated that you can deliver what is expected of you. If you deliver more and communicate it effectively, you are more likely to be selected.
You are also more likely to be selected if you act like you enjoy your work. No one wants to work alongside the negative, grumpy person. One way to start enjoying all those dull and monotonous tasks is to ask yourself, “What is the difference between work and fun?”
Work is generally performing different actions in a sequence to achieve an outcome. Think about any task you perform at work repeatedly and it falls into this category. A set of repeated actions which help you to reach an expected outcome. We call it work!
But what about your favourite sport or hobby?
Golf, for example, is just a set of repeated actions taken in a predetermined order to achieve a desired outcome. We call it fun!
“Your attitude to your work is everything when it comes to enjoyment.”
Going back to the golfing metaphor. Imagine you have just hit the perfect drive from the tee on the first hole. Your ball has landed perfectly. It’s not a hole-in-one and there is certainly no guarantee of an under-par performance, but you feel great because it was a good strike, and you celebrate the little win.
All that has happened is you have performed the first of several actions required to achieve your desired outcome. Just like work! But you have chosen to enjoy this action, and you have chosen to give yourself a pat on the back. You are going to repeat several actions during your game of golf, just like you do at work, except at work, you make a conscious choice to not-enjoy it.
Why can’t you enjoy doing a good job?
Why can’t you celebrate a good action, even though it doesn’t guarantee the right outcome?
The truth is, there is no reason why you cannot treat both golf and work the same. Another truth is that people will recognise your enthusiasm at work and appreciate it.
Do your work for fun! Celebrate your wins, even small wins every day.
Emotional Intelligence
EQ is increasingly recognised as a critical factor for success in today’s workplace. Defined as the ability to understand, manage, and influence emotions in oneself and others, EQ encompasses skills such as empathy, self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship management. EQ often determines how effectively individuals navigate interpersonal dynamics, resolve conflicts, and contribute to a collaborative work environment. The importance of EQ in fostering professional success and organizational effectiveness.
It is time for you to take responsibility
It is time for you to start your journey to becoming Relevant by building your network, becoming Visible and creating your own Opportunities.
Together, we are embarking on a journey from where you are now, to someone who is liked and trusted in the workplace and who can influence not only your career, but also the career outcomes of others.
· Our journey together will show us how we can become more likeable.
· And if people like us, they will be more willing to trust us.
· And if they have trust in who we are, we will be able to influence them.
It starts with being likeable, so let’s begin our journey there.