Have you ever wondered how some people move up the
career food chain in a way that seems – effortless?
A constant stream of plum projects, opportunities,
and even promotions seem to just drop in their lap.
So how do they do it, and more importantly, how can
you do it?
We can all learn a key lesson from advertising –
brands that are “sticky” are more successful!
Stickiness means that there’s something about a
product, company or even a website that makes people
want to keep coming back for more. The
stickier the product, the more likely it will fly
off the shelf and be in high demand.
Below are three ways to make yourself sticky
to help you get more opportunities, more choices,
put yourself in high demand!
1.
Carve out a niche for yourself.
Become an expert or the “go to” person in a
specialized area or for a specific project. Learn
everything you can through training, reading books,
and mentors and then apply it to your teams and
projects. Become “the source” for information
and share your knowledge freely with others.
2.
Become a jack-of-all-trades within an organization.
Be knowledgeable in several key areas so that you
can float seamlessly between projects and teams.
This is an excellent strategy during turbulent times
as companies are cutting staffs and shutting down
lines of services.
A key
ingredient to being sticky is to have a professional
network that’s deep and wide so that if you can’t
answer a question or solve a problem, you know where
to go to get the answer.
3.
Be a resource to others.
People are the jet fuel behind your career.
They can promote you, hire you, or introduce you to
others who could potentially hire you. So
whether you’re employed or not, having a large and
resourceful professional network is critical to your
career.
Learn how to be a resource to
others, and they’ll not only be your best friend but
they’ll more than likely go out of their way to be a
resource for you!
Send out
links to white papers, press releases, news
articles, or websites that you think may interest
someone in your network. Volunteer to
introduce your connections to others who may help
solve a problem, offer advice, or potentially
advance that person’s career. The more sticky
you are in your network, the more likely you are to
hear about career opportunities!
Your Assignment: Make Yourself Sticky!
Identify three (3) people in your professional
network who you could help RIGHT NOW by either
giving them a piece of information, sharing some
advice, or introducing them to someone else that you
know.
By taking the time and initiative to help out three
peers, you’ll not only feel good, but you’ll also be
making a deposit in the ole career karma bank!
Also, look around within your current organization
(or at the company of your upcoming interview) and
identify a problem that you can help solve.
Volunteer an idea, or make a suggestion on how to
break through the roadblock.
The point is to take control of your career.
By making yourself sticky you’ll be putting yourself
in high demand with companies and others in your
professional network, and managing your career will
actually become – effortless!
