Do Not Be Invisible at Work

Community Manager — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:55:00 GMT

You cannot make it as a wandering generality. You must be a meaningful specific.

Become Your Own Advocate

This is a well-known quote from author/motivational speaker Zig Ziglar. While open to multiple interpretations, for me, it resonates as a call-to-action - a call to make our unique accomplishments known so we can stand out in the crowd.

This can be a challenging call. As an initial hurdle, many people find it hard to self promote because they are shy or think it is too egotistical. We need to get over this hurdle quickly because, in our tough business climate, knowing and touting the brand called you is more important than ever. This is especially true for those of us who - by choice or otherwise - work away from our managers and co-workers most of the time.

Here are some tips for gaining that much-needed visibility for you and your professional accomplishments:

Check in informally. Whether by email, IM, phone, video conference or Twitter, reach out to your boss and teammates on a regular basis to update them about projects you are collaborating on. Send links to articles and other online resources that can help them accomplish tasks or solve problems. Of course, you should keep informal check-ins in check so that the team stays on course and people know that you value their time and attention.

Arrange face-to-face meetings. To the extent possible, request to meet with your manager and team members in person at least once a year at the company's headquarters or in another convenient location.

Share your schedule. Using online collaboration platforms like Basecamp, OfficeMedium or CubeTree, you can easily let others know where you are, when you are working and what you are working on. If you want a more pared-down - yet still versatile - collaboration tool, try an online calendar from Google or Yahoo .

Speak up! Do not shy away from sharing your achievements and expertise. Write a blog or guest blog post, contribute articles to trade publications and participate in conversations taking place in your field on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. If your company hosts forums or discussion groups, become an active participant.

By taking affirmative steps to stay visible, you can nurture and safeguard your career. If you have any tips for keeping yourself and your work accomplishments on the radar screen, please share them with us.

by Candie Harris

Beyond Folders : communication skills, appreciation

Do Not Be Invisible at Work