If you’re working hard, you may have heard that you’ll ultimately be rewarded for it. But leadership and career development expert Jeffrey Peffer rarely succeeds easily.
Young people often think, in particular, “If they do a good job, someone may or may not notice.” “That hard work speaks for itself… (and) if you bow your head and play with the rules, you’ll succeed.”
But keeping your head down will be overlooked, and the most successful employees will boldly differentiate themselves from their colleagues by talking about what they want, he says.
“You see how it shows up,” says Pfeffer. “So how you show up is at least as important as what you actually do.”
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In other words, if you become quiet and simply do what is in your job description, you may be overlooked for a salary increase or promotion – especially with your colleagues who raise their hands for a new project and develop a relationship with their boss.
It can be difficult to speak up and stand out, especially if you’re shy, reserved, or very focused on your work. “I don’t care if you’re introverted or extroverted. You have to work, right?” Pfeffer says. “This is not about personality, it’s about behavior.”
Pfeffer recommends that you make a deliberate effort to comfortably share ideas at meetings, build a professional network through LinkedIn, coffee chat and lunch, and strengthen relationships with your boss. Don’t be afraid to use flattering that is suitable for a professional workplace, he says.
For example, you can tell your boss that you appreciate how emergency team meetings are being held or that you are seeking career advice. Even small gestures can help you stay the best of your mind when they think about candidates for new opportunities, says Pfeffer.
“I don’t need to flatten my peers, I need to flatten them,” he says. “People in the hierarchy are people who are responsible for your career.”
Pfeffer offers outstanding hints that have nothing to do with your actual work output. To dress slightly better than the people around you and project some confidence and abilities.
This advice reiterates a similar recommendation from Clinton Kelly, who spoke with CNBC with the style experts from Stacey London and Clinton Kelly. Being “conscientious about your wardrobe” tells you, “You’ll probably be conscientious about your work,” Kelly said.
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