Making It Big Monday

20 Tips to Accelerate Your Career and Get Noticed -Part 1

The following tips are what helped me get ahead in the corporate world. They took me from a part time, entry level position to a sales management position and finally to top institutional sales manager for a large brokerage firm. These are also things that I valued in my employees and that helped them to succeed. Most of us have to work. Why not enjoy it by giving it your all and excelling?

1. Manage Your Time. Think like a business owner, not an employee. If you do this you will want to prioritize your work according to which activities best grow your business and profits. Figure out what those type of activities are. Get them done first and don't worry about the smaller things that don't have as big a payoff. When you can, delegate appropriately.

2. Take Initiative. Don't wait to be told to do things. If you know it will help your company or team, do it. Surprise your boss with extras. Of course always be sure to get your most important work done first. There's no point in failing the exam because you were working on extra credit stuff. Ace the exam and then do the extra credit report too!

3. Politics: Understand It and Make It Work for You. Politics is not bad. Politics is simply humans doing what they've done since caveman days, working together. Politics is "You help me and I'll help you." There's nothing wrong with that if your end goal is to grow business ethically and to grow your career based on good works. The only thing bad about politics is ignoring it. That will hurt your career. Work on building a network of supporters. Help others out with their projects and, like putting money in the bank, you'll be able to withdraw that support at a later date for your projects. And be sure to seek out diversity in your supporters. Be wary of simply focusing on your small circle of friends. A broader base of supporters will give you more power to enact your great ideas in the future.

4. Make Your Boss Look Good. Yes, even if you don't like him or her. When your boss looks good, so do you. Think ahead for your boss. Anticipate his or her needs whenever you can and take action. Actively promote the good works of your boss. Don't be afraid of being labeled a "suck-up." The only people who will call you that are people who are not working on growing their career, who are too cool to stick their neck out, and whom you will surpass. If your boss is a poor at his/her job, don't spend your time trying to sabotage him/her. Just stay focused on doing great work. If your boss is really bad, his/her superiors will eventually figure it out. Stay above the fray and do your best to associate with positive top-producing colleagues.

5. Don't Gossip. Try not to speak ill of others. It does you no good. It does no one any good. Focus on your work and keep moving forward. Gossip is a waste of time. If you need to vent do so with your family at home.

6. Be a Good Leader, Follower, and Team Player. You don't have to be in a leadership position to take on a leadership role. You can be a thought leader and an action leader. Do both. The same is true with being a good follower. Be willing to check your ego at the door even if your title says that you are the designated leader. Be open to new ideas from people below you in rank. And never fear their success. Embrace their success and you win too. Try to squash their ideas and success out of fear, you will look weak, and you will lose respect. Being a good team player means facilitating the involvement of everyone on the team according to their strengths.

7. Take Smart Risks. Forge a new path. Seek out involvement from others to make your venture more successful.

8. Pick Your Battles Carefully. You've probably heard this one before, but I was always surprised how some people continually want to fight for every idea, and thereby undermine their own power to get anything done at all. If you are going to throw down a challenge, ask yourself if this is going to truly make the company more successful. Be able to explain how it relates to the goals that are measured. Will you have support from others and how much influence do they have? Will you be making someone who holds power over your career look bad? Is your company in a tight fiscal mode or is the cash free flowing? What is at stake and is it worth it? If you're not sure, ask someone that has success with getting their ideas implemented for some guidance.

9. Details. Find the right balance. Don't forget the details of your job and don't drown in them either. Establish systems or seek out support to help you. If administrative help is not in the budget, perhaps consider swapping tasks with a colleague.

10. Work Smart, Work Hard. Be efficient with your time. Stay focused on activities on which you are measured. And, although "The Four Hour Work Week" touts success with only 4 hours of work per week, the truth is that most of us need to put in a good chunk of time to be successful. And, really, if you love what you do, that's not such a bad thing. Hard work is what makes play so pleasurable. So make it a point to enjoy the work too.

Stay posted next Monday for part 2 of these helpful hints!

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/11/20-tips-to-accelerate-your-career-and.html, K. Stone