Often times I get asked for career advice, or tips on how to merchandise an array of skills to maximize their value and entice employers.
Truth be told, high ranks from a name-brand education may get you a face to face meeting or the entry level job, but without creativity, commitment and dedication, you won’t get the kind of love that comes when a manager respects and values you enough to give and keep giving you the promotion.
We all know that creative leadership begins when you own your contribution to what the experience of your life is. Similarly, being at the top of your game in your career starts whenever you choose: whether you’re a rookie, transitioning to a new field, or at the helm of your own funding start-up.
Here are 3 cutting edge means of realizing your work performance pheromones:
1. Be in Great Shape. Sound shallow? What does being in shape have to do with finding success in business? Don’t kid yourself. High performers work though challenges, they do not let them weigh them down. Being physically active is a turn on in almost any field: it shows flexibility, adaptability and range. More importantly it is a direct reflection of someone who knows how to manage the stress of everyday life and use it to their advantage. Your muscle tone shows not just your understanding of how to play the game, it shows motivation and a practised skill set of will-power, agility and focus. Don’t call this one in and watch the game from the bench.
2. Be Curious. At any point in your career, be sure to factor in the value of learning not just earning. Both new and seasoned creative leaders know that earnings and learning offer the whole package. Learn what your company really does, what makes it work and where it is heading. Knowing this will serve as a guide as to which skill-set you highlight most. An employee who is knowledgeable and multi-skilled will be the first to be considered to work cross functionally when managers are asked to choose candidates to invest in more, not just keep around.
3. Be Hungry. See an opportunity opening up that requires more training? Make it happen. Additional training might be just the thing that inspires your team leader to make the case for you to be the one to be moved to the new project or department. Not only are you already on board, but you are proactive by training yourself in ways that can be more useful to your company. That kind of creativity in action gets serious play.
Learning new skills is a lot like being in great physical shape. Both compound confidence. You will feel better about yourself because you have increased your value and let’s face it, self-evolving is hot. Developing yourself is something that managers eat up because it marks you as a creative leader, and team motivator. Any corporation worth its weight needs these individuals today as well as long-term.
As indispensable as making yourself more desirable at work is, no job comes with a 100% guarantee. By now we have all seen or experienced entire departments shutting down and how fast the pink slips are handed out. Being multi-skilled, flexible and creatively agile offers the security so that even if this does happen, you are likely to be much more employable than those who do not appreciate the key strategies above.
What are your thoughts on what keeps creativity in play for you at work?