What people around the organization think about you is vital for your career advancement. What people think of you happens in-the-moment and is also built over time. Each interaction becomes the story of you, and it is what people talk, think and feel about you when you aren’t around. The story of you determines your career success.
Your level of participation and the quality of how you contribute is essential when it comes to career advancement. Maya Angelou said, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” You can make people feel better by having positive communication. Improve the following daily conversations, and as a result, build a better story of you for career success.
Advance Your Career – Avoid The Silent Pass By
People are busy, and they often move from place to place at a quick pace. How many people do you pass by, make eye contact with and neither of you says anything? While at other times, you pass by, greet them, but they say nothing in return? How do those scenarios make you feel? What do you think of someone when these scenarios occur?
When a pass by is about to happen, make eye contact and say good (morning, afternoon, or night). Greeting people with the time of day is good because it doesn’t have to start a conversation which is respectful of time. However, if they stop or ask how you are doing, you should stop and engage.
Demonstrate Curiosity by Asking Questions to Advance Your Career
Questions and answers are the foundation of our everyday communication. Asking compelling questions help you discover insights you don’t already know about your co-workers. Here are great questions to ask when engaging with a co-worker:
1) What keeps you up at night?
This question is excellent to understand what is top of mind for people. Knowing this could give you ways you can help them solve their toughest challenges. For that reason, this question is great for career advancement.
2) What does acting with a sense of urgency look like to you?
Asking this question is great for other people you work with because it will let you know their expectations when under a deadline. Because knowing how fast to act when pressure is on ensures career success.
3) What is your preferred style of communication?
Because knowing how people want to be communicated with reduces miscommunications which is a common cause of friction between people. Talking with people the way they prefer will make them feel better about communicating with you.
Compliment Authentically for Career Success
What others say to and about us affects our sense of self and confidence. Who doesn’t like to receive a compliment? How much better will someone’s day be if they received one? Complimenting people creates a positive workplace culture and strengthens trust. Additionally, receiving compliments increases engagement. All of which helps advance your career because people will feel better about how you made them feel. To compliment authenticly requires you to pay attention.
In meetings – listen for the contributions and after the meeting let the person know what you liked and why.
In conversations – listen for accomplishments or praise the value you have witnessed them demonstrating.
The company newsletter – if your company publishes a newsletter, scan it for accomplishments and send an email congratulating the person. It can be especially impactful if you’ve not met the person.
Deepen Relationships with Disclosure to Advance Your Career
Vulnerability is powerful, and self-disclosure is the best way to deepen your relationships. Talking about you creates trust and reciprocity. Doing so builds a positive story of you. Self-disclosure advances your career and can make people feel valued by you. As with the compliments above, it should be authentic, truthful and personal.
To keep it professional the following topics are suggested:
- Professional interests
- Projects you are working on
- Where you grew up or why you’ve relocated to where you are now
- Favorite (movie, music, restaurant, etc.)
- Book you are reading, or have recently finished
- What work problems are you are currently tackling, and ask for feedback on what you are thinking to do to solve it
Give Courage – Provide Strength and Support for Career Success
Giving another person support will help them realize their potential. Showing support for someone will make them feel good about you because it shows you care. Caring for people as a person is the most favorable communication you can have for advancing your career. Offering support can be done by providing advice, sharing exciting news about a mutual interest or by letting someone know how much they’ve helped you with something. Even more, seeing their facial expressions or body language and asking “are you alright” because that demonstrates you genuinely see them.
Positive communication is an art form. It is a skill that will make or break your career advancement. People will walk away from a conversation with you either feeling good or feeling bad. Adopting these five communication behaviors will help you communicate better in your personal and professional life. As a result, they will build a better story of you, make people feel good and help advance your career.
