Author: Marcia Zidle

Meetings, most of us roll our eyes and can’t wait to get back to our office where the real work gets done.

However, meetings, whether they’re regularly scheduled routines in your company or now-and-then get-togethers, can be a place for you to gain positive visibility and to showcase your capabilities. Here are three strategies that will help you stand out, shine and advance your career.

1. Do your homework before the meeting.
In order to make intelligent comments, offer helpful suggestions or ask pertinent questions, you need to know a meeting’s purpose and topic areas in advance. If you have received a vague notice or agenda, inquire about what’s going to be discussed and what are the goals. You can basically say that you want to come ready to contribute.

If it’s your supervisor or team leader who is calling the staff or group together and has left the focus a bit loose, you might offer to prepare an agenda by saying: “This could save time and help the staff / team come prepared to provide useful input.” Be seen as someone who knows how to make meetings effective. This ability is a real career asset, especially in team-based organizations.

2. Polish your act during the meeting.
Even if the meeting is informal, mentally run through what issues might come up and what you might say. Jot down any remarks you want to make about certain agenda items. In other words, don’t just wing it. Rather, come prepared with well-thought-through suggestions and supporting information.

Here’s where your observations at prior meetings are critical. Do people speak up freely or wait to be called on by the meeting leader? Are presentations made formally, perhaps by standing at a podium or do people stay seated, interjecting comments when there’s an opening? Determine how the most effective members make their points, and how the leader reacts to various presentation styles. Use this information as a model for your presentations.

3. Follow up and follow through after the meeting.
What happens after a meeting can be just as important as what takes place during it. Ideas presented must be implemented and decisions carried out. Even as a participant, you can help to ensure that the decisions made become realities. Here’s how.

Even if someone else is taking minutes, make brief notes about each agenda item. This is a good way to keep your team and boss informed as well as to be available to prepare a meeting summary and send it out to everyone. Also, if you get a great idea after the meeting, don’t sit on it. The opportunity may be lost. Develop a post meeting proposal or outline and present it to your boss or whoever is in charge. Meeting follow ups can give you great visibility to be seen as a problem solver and leader.

Career Success Tip:

If you take an active role before, during, and after meetings, you will demonstrate your ability to get a job done and your willingness to participate in a team effort. As you discover better ways for achieving better meeting results, you’ll be displaying your leadership talent and you’ll be seen as a high performing professional.

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

Is Experience the Best Teacher?

Yes, says The Center for Creative Leadership. Their research found that a variety of challenging assignments contribute greatly to the building and seasoning of new and emerging leaders.

However, not all challenges are equal. The ones that will enhance leadership skills are those that:

• Require working with new people or high variety or time pressures.
• Call for influencing people with no or limited direct authority or control.
• Involve building a team, starting something from scratch or solving a problem.
• Demand a “take charge” attitude, quick learning, coping with uncertain situations.

Choose Your Challenges Wisely

It’s not necessary to change one’s job to build leadership capabilities. Rather be on the lookout for or request these kinds of assignments, projects or tasks. They are developmental. In other words, they will help you learn, grow and lead more effectively.

1. Be part of a task force on a pressing business problem
2. Handle a negotiation with a customer
3. Present proposal report to top management
4. Work short periods in other units or departments
5. Plan an off site, meeting or conference
6. Serve on a new project / product review committee
7. Manage the visit of a VIP
8. Go off-site to troubleshoot problems
9. Take a board position at a community organization
10. Be part of the company’s trade show booth team
11. Redesign a work process with another function
12. Resolve conflict among warring subordinates
13. Take over a troubled project and get it back on track
14. Manage projects requiring coordination across the organization
15. Supervise assigned office space in a new building
16. Spend a day with customers and write report
17. Do postmortem on a failed project
18. Evaluate the impact of training
19. Write a proposal for a new system, product, etc.
20. Interview outsiders on their view of the organization

Pick one or two of the above professional development assignments that would help you develop your leadership capabilities now.

Career Success Tip

You learn on the job every day. But are you learning what you really need to learn to develop your leadership and advance your career? It’s up to you to make sure you’re continually improving, growing and learning. It’s up to you to take charge of your professional development.

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

In my new job, I have to make a presentation to upper management. In the past I’ve gotten tongue tied and failed to get support for a project. How can I get them to take my ideas seriously?”

Take a step back for a moment. When someone doesn’t understand your ideas immediately, don’t label him or her an ignorant bureaucrat or whatever. The issue is one of influence – how to get others to see your point of view and buy into it.

Influencing Up

Whether you’re trying to get additional resources or to impact a staffing decision or to extend a deadline, it is similar to selling products or services to customers. They don’t have to buy; you have to influence them to say yes. But I’m not talking about pushing your ideas or products or services. Rather, influencing is an artful way to get people to see the value of what you’re offering and to encourage them to take action. Here’s how.

1. Put yourself in their shoes.
Think as they would when developing your proposal. Continually ask yourself: How would they view this? What would their response be? What are they most concerned about? In other words, what problems keep them awake at night that you can solve?

2. Build a foundation.
Gather facts, statistics, cases and other evidence that support your position. Then connect the dots between the “what” – your request or proposal and the “why” – how it will achieve specific goals and objectives. Don’ t assume they will make the connection. That’s your job. It is also the key to influencing up.

3. Test it out.
Asks others what is and what isn’t appealing about your ideas or suggestions. Find out if there are certain buzz words or key phrases that will get their attention. This helps you hone your presentation so that it won’t be immediately shot down or shelved. The more you’re on their wave length, the more likely you and your ideas will be taken seriously.

Career Success Tip

Influencing up, getting management to buy into your ideas and then act on them, requires personal confidence, professional credibility and skillful communication. Make sure you have all three.

Readers, what has worked for you in influencing up – getting your boss to buy into your ideas?

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

What influences career success the most?

A McKinsey Global Survey asked executives about decisions or events that led to a significant long-term positive change in their work life.

One of the most interesting findings was that both men and women said the single most pivotal event in their careers occurred when they were around the age of 30. That’s when they realized that success would not magically happen. That meant that they had to take responsibility for their careers.

Career Check-Up

I have found, working with successful professionals and leaders, that they regularly evaluated their career choices and career opportunities. The first of these career check-ups is in one’s late 20’s to mid-30’s. That’s when you might be asking these kinds of questions: Am I in the right field or how can I advance more quickly or should I seriously consider a recruiter’s call.

Now back to the survey. Here’s what the participants said:

The top four pivotal events that led to positve change in their work life:

• Realization that they had become passionate about new roles or industries.
• A new job opportunity at your current organization or a new organization.
• Their current jobs had become less attractive and they felt they were going nowhere.
• Realization that they were not leading the lives they desired.

The top five individual responses that led to greater career satisfaction:

1. Took a position in a new company or different industry.
2. Decided to manage my career more actively.
3. Took a new position in the same company.
4. Decided to go back to school for postgraduate degree like a MBA.
5. Revised my career ambitions or goals..

So what influences your career the most?

It’s the situation you find yourself in and most importantly your response to that situation. Successful people know where they want to go; are alert to changes happening in their career environment; and are not standing still but taking action to move their careers forward.

When was the last time you did a career check-up? Don’t leave your career success to someone else.

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

Many ambitious professionals are so involved in projects and fire fighting that they forget about managing their careers.

Don’t let these seven career mistakes derail your career.

1. Burning bridges along the way.
Each profession may seem big – but, as you move up in your career, you come to realize how ‘small’ each really is. Something you said or done may comes back to haunt you.

2. Not having big enough goals.
A key career stopper is setting your goals too low or not being willing to put in the time it takes to reach goals. Believing “I could never do that” or, “They’ll never give me the go ahead” means it probably won’t happen. Take risks, try new things, initiate and learn and grow.

3. Playing office politics.
Some people pick the wrong battles to fight. When you get enmeshed in gossiping or office politics, you forget about the goals, mission and getting the job done. It’ll lead to a lack of outcomes – a career killer every time.

4. Having a bad attitude.
“It kills even the most talented,” said one top executive, who has observed many talented people rise and fall. Negative attitudes slow you down, but good ones are jet fuel, enhancing all you do. Attitudes, like skills, are learned and therefore can be changed, improved or updated.

5. Thinking that money is everything.
A great salary doesn’t equate to happiness. For most people – executive or staff – money means very little if you are truly unhappy. Job satisfaction is the number one reason people elect to find a new job. What gets you up each day excited about going to work? Take control of your career! If you don’t, who else will?

6. Not asking for feedback.
Quiz your boss regularly about your performance. Don’t wait for your annual review. Nip any problems in the bud. for example, at the end of a project, “What could I have done differently? What skills do I need to work on so I can handle more responsibility down the line? What’s the best approach for getting those skills?”

7. Not working at a job you’re passionate about.
“People float through life as if it were boring, drudgery or a nuisance – often complaining, yet never determining what would fulfill them,” noted a nonprofit director. The true key to success is discovering your inner passion and then finding a way to work in that arena

Career Success Tip

The greatest career mistake bright, ambitious professioals make is not learning from the mistakes of others. Don’t let these seven mistakes sabotage derail your career.

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

I left my present job, which was stable but had limited opportunities, and went to a larger company that is so different. I think I’ve made a mistake.

This was a frantic call I received from a project manager who’s dealing with buyer’s remorse. It seemed like the best job ever. The money was good and the benefits great.

But a dream job can turn into a nightmare if you haven’t checked out the company’s culture before joining it. The career challenge of moving into a new organization is like moving to a new country — you need to learn the language, connect with the people and know the do’s and the don’ts of appropriate behavior.

Advice from a job changer

Mary, wanting to be in senior management at a large metropolitan hospital, realized she will need to change jobs, each one with increased responsibility. This probably means moving from one hospital to another. She makes it a habit to take several steps when she applies for a position and after she accepts it.

During the interview she asks:

• What skills and behaviors will be successful here?
• What is the average tenure of your employees?
• How does the company define success for itself?
• How would you describe the corporate culture?

Once in the position, she advises:

• Do not assume that what made you successful in one company will work, even within the same industry.
• Ask a lot of questions — of your manager, of your peers, of whomever is willing to help you.
• Ask for expectations in terms of output, time, and content for all work assignments.
• Develop a glossary of company buzz words and phrases so that you, too, can sound like an old hand.
• Find the best possible guide to the company, someone who has been around forever and knows how everything works.

Career Success Tip

On-boarding is one of several career challenges you may face. Successful transition into a new organization or a new position requires a quick understanding and adaptation to a new culture, new people and a new political arena. So don’t jump ship yet. Rather focus on learning the new ways of working.

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

There are times when a lateral move can be as important to your career as a promotion. Is this one of them?

Here’s a reader’s situation.

“I have a boss who is sitting out time till his retirement. I can’t move up until he goes. Another manager has given me some hints that I could transfer to her department. It would not be a promotion. And people, who work for her, tell me she is tough and demanding. I’m not sure it’s a wise move.”

It seems you have a choice between going stale or being shaken up. You know what you would be leaving but do you know what you’re getting into? So before you decide:

Dig deep and wide for insights.

Set up a meeting to find out about the position and its responsibilities as well as your new boss’s style, expectations and goals. If you have a mentor, ask his or her opinion about the value and consequences of this specific move. If you feel comfortable, even talk to your present boss about this potential opportunity. Some things to consider:

• Can you work with her? One person may see her high expectations as demanding; another might see it as a high level of professionalism. What do you see?
• Is this department in a growing mode or is it hanging on for dear life? You don’t want to leave a secure position for one that may be laying off or outsourcing.
• What’s the company’s attitude toward people who transfer out of one functional area to another? Is it seen as “job hopping” or as gaining operational knowledge?
• What about your motivation? Do you see this move as an escape from boredom and frustration or as an experience that will help you move upward at another time?

Now it’s time to decide.

You can stay where you are – bored, frustrated, sitting on your hands until you boss retires or making a move – new boss, new responsibilities, new expectations and a certain amount of uncertainty. What is it going to be?

Career Success Tip

Lateral moves are a valuable strategic career management option if it provides you with a working environment where you can thrive; a good fit between you talents and the position’s responsibilities; and opportunities for growth and advancement.

Readers, what do you think? Have lateral transfers enhanced or detracted from your career growth?

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

“I’ve been in this position for four years. My boss drops hints about where I might go from here, but nothing comes of it. I feel stuck. ”

When you have been in a position for a while you may feel like you have reached a plateau. But I think that plateaus are not necessarily bad. They don’t always signal a stalled career. It could also be a time to recharge and get ready for the next opportunity.

Take stock and then take action.

1. Don’t assume your boss will look out for you.
Placing primary responsibility on your boss for advancing your career is not a smart move. She’s probably more concerned about her own, especially in these are difficult economic times. So use this time for your own career planning.

2. Clarify if it’s you or the company that’s the problem.
Are you burned out? Has your last performance appraisal been a downer? The worst thing is to pretend everything’s fine. The problem may be you. What can you do right now to get you back on a success track?

However, if you’ve been getting good performance review and have advanced with regularity then ,most likely, it is not you that has stalled. It may be the company. How well have they dealt with the recent recession? Are they starting to show signs of growth?

3. Tune up to be in the right place at the right time.
Remember have skills, will travel. Periodically inspect your skills portfolio. Which skills are state-of-the-art and in great demand? Which skills are somewhat rusty that need to be improved? How many are transferable to other areas inside your organization or even outside to other companies or industries?

The best way to find out about new opportunities is to stay connected with others. Who, in your company, are in a position to know where the potholes and potentials are? Also look outward. Be involved in your community and your professional organization. The more visibility you have, the more opportunities will appear.

Career Success Tip

If you career stalls, don’t wait for the career fairy to appear and make everything better. It’s up to you. What career options can you start exploring for challenge, variety, or greater personal satisfaction? What internal training or external seminars will enhance your marketability? Who can mentor you to get your career moving?

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

Think hard work is all you need for career success?

Jeffrey Pfeffer, at Stanford University Graduate School of Business disagrees. In his latest book, Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don’t, he argues that what you need to succeed in the workplace is, above all, power.

He was asked in an interview with BNET “What is the biggest mistake people make when it comes to achieving power?”

He answered: “I see a lot of people who voluntarily give up the opportunity to have a lot of power by saying things like, ‘I won’t play the game.’ That won’t get you anywhere.”

Sources of Power

As a coach of talent, part of my job is to help career starters and emerging leaders see that they have power no matter where they stand on the corporate ladder. It’s a matter of recognizing and capitalizing on it. There are two sources of power.

1. Formal or Position Power
This is based on your title – manager, supervisor, senior vice-president, etc. With it comes the ability and responsibility to reward (provide someone with a raise or plum assignment) and punish (discipline someone or limit access to resources). However, there’s another.

2. Informal or Personal Power
This is based not on your position, but on you. You have the ability to develop expert power (based on highly valued knowledge and skills) and associate power (based upon who you know and who knows you).

Which is easier to obtain?
In most cases its personal power. Here are five ways to increase your informal power and not feel you just playing the game. Take a look at these past posts.

1. Know What’s Going On: Information is power so be on constant alert.
2. Have Skills Will Travel: This is what you bring to the employment table.
3. Develop a Strong Brand: It conveys your distinctiveness as a professional or leader.
4. Enhance Your Reputation: Toot your horn occasionally and have others do it as well.
5. Build Good Working Relationships: They are the bread of career life so eat often and hearty.

Career Success Tip

True power, to get things done, does not come from a title or position. Rather it comes from the value ( your expert power) you produce for your internal and external customers. Figure out ways to make a positive impact (your associate power) on the key people in your career world. That’s how you build power careers.

On a scale from 1 (low) to 10 (high) how much personal power do you have right now to achieve your career goals? What can you do to get it to a 10?

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?