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WEARING
TOO MANY HATS?
There is one sure-fire
way to succeed in your career and
that is to develop your reputation
as an expert.
Keith was an attorney
who excelled at litigation. He was
so successful at managing his cases
and client development that his partners
wanted him to manage the firm. In
this new position, however, Keith
was miserable. He wasn't detail-oriented
by nature and he didn't feel comfortable
managing other people.
This is a common problem
for professionals who excel in one
area. Often, the company wants to
capitalize on that expertise by moving
them into a management position. I
see this frequently with sales people
who are promoted to manage others,
but then find themselves in positions
that do not tap into their expertise.
In fact, many struggle because they
are unprepared for this new role or
just not on the same level of competency
as they were in their previous job.
Fortunately for Keith,
he was able to appeal to the partners
of the firm who, in the end, recognized
where Keith would be happiest and
make the best contribution to the
firm. A replacement was found to manage
the firm, and Keith happily returned
to a full caseload.
Are you wearing
too many hats? Is the hat you‚re
wearing the one that suits you best?
In today's workforce,
many of us are forced to wear many
hats. The ranks are thinner due to
attrition or layoffs. With no one
to pick up the slack, we are forced
to do not only our own jobs but many
other tasks as well.
In addition, companies
often stress the importance of being
a well-rounded individual. Someone
who excels in outside sales ends up
in marketing because the company thinks
that's a skill to be developed. At
other times, the positions we end
up in are the result of job changes
and lateral moves.
Whatever hat you're
wearing, it‚s time to go back
to the one that really fits.
REDISCOVERING
YOUR EXPERTISE
For some people, it
may be difficult to identify their
expertise. This is not because they
lack it, but rather they've allowed
themselves to be sidetracked over
the years. If this sounds familiar,
it's time to go on a journey of rediscovery.
- Think back on past
successes in your life, professional
or personal. What do you recall
with pride?
- Go back to your college
years and move forward in time.
What events stand out in your memory?
- Make a list of these
past successes. Now examine the
list: What talents or abilities
are common to these successes?
- The skills and traits
that made you successful in the
past will be the key to your future
success. Further, focusing on past
successes will help you to elevate
your mood and your confidence as
you move forward.
- At this point, ask
yourself what skill or ability do
people naturally seek out in you.
What tasks or jobs are the most
gratifying to you?
- Seek out the feedback
of others. Ask an associate or colleague
a hypothetical question: „If
you were to start your own company,
what position would you give to
me any why?". You might be
amazed at the answer!
- If you have
the courage to ask your boss for
input, you'll be the better for
it. You‚ll get a clearer sense
of how your boss values you and
where he/she sees your expertise.
Your boss‚ feedback on the
value you bring can be a reality
check - or a wakeup call.
ARE YOU
WAITING FOR A WATERFALL IN THE DESERT?
Too often people expect
to be recognized for their expertise.
They believe a golden opportunity
will suddenly appear like a waterfall
in the desert. A far better plan is
to be more proactive. With the feedback
- both internal and external - that
you've been given, I'd suggest the
following steps:
- Evaluate your current
job. What do you like most about
it, and what do you like the least?
How often and in what ways do you
demonstrate your expertise?
- Describe your dream
job. If you could have any job that
would showcase your talent or expertise,
what would it be? What would you
do every day? How would you choose
to spend your time?
- Know what‚s
stopping you. What is standing between
you and your „dream job?".
Are you self-promotional enough,
or do you hold back? Are you modest
to a fault? Are you self-effacing
without even realizing it? Do you
have an entitlement attitude, expecting
that others will automatically recognize
your expertise?
- Are you bogged down
with jobs and tasks that you loathe
but that you can‚t seem to
get rid of? Are you just doing your
job or are you demonstrating added
value? Does your boss recognize
your talent, or are you hiding the
light of your expertise under the
proverbial bushel?
- Set concrete goals
for yourself to begin showcasing
your talents. Are you willing to
volunteer for a committee, team
project or internal task force?
Will you go the extra distance to
show others what you can do?
GIVING AWAY
YOUR EXPERTISE
The challenge for many
people is that they see few (if any)
opportunities to be recognized as
experts in their current job. If that
has happened to you, the problem may
be that you are waiting to be „invited."
Take a more positive and proactive
approach!
- There
are no shortages of opportunities
to demonstrate your expertise but
to do so effectively you must be
savvy, strategic and humble. And
never, ever, miss a chance to champion
someone else.
- Seek
opportunities to demonstrate your
talent - inside and outside the
workplace. Volunteer for projects
and leadership roles. Freely offer
your expertise to someone who can
benefit from it. Your expertise
will be further enhanced by your
willingness to share it.
- At
meetings, don't stand on ceremony
and expect people to ask you to
participate. Come prepared with
thought-provoking ideas and insightful
questions. Make it a rule to speak
up in the first ten minutes to be
acknowledged as a team player.
- Don't
seek to make other people „wrong"in
meetings. Your expertise can shine
when you add to the ideas of others
or when you offer another point
of view. Become comfortable with
diplomatic phrases such as, "I
like what you said". "Here's
another perspective."."To
piggyback on what you just said,
I recommend that..."
- As
you showcase your expertise, don't
be afraid if your boss steals your
ideas. It's difficult to get ahead
without making your boss look good.
Hopefully, it will be reciprocal.
CUSTOMIZE
YOUR CAREER
To be called an expert
is both an honor and an obligation.
The pride we feel in being recognized
for our talent or expertise goes hand-in-hand
with our duty to share it with others
- to make an impact, to make a difference.
I have had such an honor
through the publication of my book,
Customize Your Career: How to Develop
a Winning Strategy to Move Up, Move
Ahead, or Move On. What began
as an idea has become reality in a
book that I believe will be instrumental
for everyone, whether seasoned professional,
entrepreneur, new job seeker, or someone
looking for the next opportunity
I've filled the book
with advice, practical tips and inspiring
stories, gleaned from my many years
of coaching and teaching professionals.
My goal was to give you - the reader
- real-world strategies for reaping
success and living a more fulfilled
life.
In my own life and as
I've seen reflected in the lives of
so many others, what we are most passionate
about - what brings us joy and fulfillment
- lies at the heart of our expertise.
Now it's time to bring YOUR expertise
to light. You deserve the recognition!
For more information
about Customize Your Career by Roz
Usheroff or to order a copy, click
here
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