|
|
Advance your cause By Clinton Withers OK, so you have landed a great career or gotten the position you wanted in some respected organization. Now what? In my youthful experience as an involved student leader at Savannah College of Art and Design and an ambitious new employee at the college, I have come to realize what separates the good employees from the outstanding ones — you know, the ones who seem to gain recognition and get the promotion. I was talking with a friend who had recently landed a great job with a national company. Within a month or two of working, he was being placed on a fast-track training program within the company and receiving recognition from within the corporate administration with the promise of promotion. How did this young gun, surrounded by more seasoned company veterans, gain the attention and respect that was leading him up the corporate ladder? Success, as most know, is an art. There is more to building a successful career than just getting the job done. The elements to getting ahead require awareness and an overwhelming determination for accomplishing the best. My friend knew this and put to work a recipe for success. Networking is a key element to any career. Get to know the individuals in your office and gain trust, respect and a level of camaraderie with co-workers. Through networking one develops invaluable ties, influence and knowledge. Keep this in mind; it’s whom you know that gets you there and what you know that keeps you there. No one appreciates an employee who isn’t willing to put forth 150 percent to the company. Volunteering for new projects, research or other team projects beyond your normal job description will allow management and co-workers to see your dedication, enthusiasm and determination toward the company. Being the best means dedicating time and energy to anything you do. Do not become a clock-watcher. In other words, do not be one of those employees who arrives 10 minutes late and leaves 15 minutes early. Arriving to work early and staying late, even if your projects are complete, say a lot about your motivation. A good rule of thumb is to study your boss and follow or exceed his time schedule with the company. Understand company politics. Every company has an unspoken standard for work behavior, following chain of command and basic philosophy. If the company is laid-back and administration is welcoming to its employees, then you will also want to fit in to this casual environment. But in most cases, larger companies and organizations are formal and run more like governments than communities. Of course, don’t get discouraged; learn the rules and understand the politics and you have the potential to being a great leader within the company. Forget what your mother taught you and begin to toot your own horn. Sometimes letting others know of your accomplishments in the workplace will alert them to your abilities. It is not enough to simply accomplish great things, but you have to promote yourself in order to be recognized. There are extremes, of course, but for the most part, modest self-promotion of your abilities, talents and ideas will give you that extra boost when new projects come along. Know your company and go beyond your basic responsibilities. One thing I have learned is that fulfilling your basic duties will never get you noticed. You have great ideas, so let them be heard. Researching company strategies and developing your own proposals say to company leaders that you are ambitious and concerned with growth and prosperity. Make sure research and proposals are sound then seek out your immediate supervisor and set a meeting to discuss your ideas and strategies. Finally, love your job. How can you wake up each day with the drive and force it takes to accomplish outstanding things if you hate your career? You will never gain momentum or recognition within the company if your heart is not in the right place. Like any plan for success, gaining recognition within a company is a combination of style and developing an evolving strategy. Mostly, promotion and recognition is about awareness of your abilities and making them fit into the company’s goals. Learn about your company or organization. Understand its administrative structure and inside politics. Learn the rules and you will learn to play the game. Withers is media producer for D61. |
 |
||
