Getting ahead

Since we spend most of our waking hours at work, how do we know we are putting our best foot forward (as opposed to a foot in the mouth)? If you’ve ever wondered why some people seem to rise more rapidly than others or appear to be somebody’s ‘blue-eyed boy’, then read on.

Apart from our formal degree and a solid work ethic, there are many other factors that are involved in our evolution to senior levels. I say ‘evolution’ as opposed to ‘progress’ because we must evolve as individuals in a holistic manner. Since most of these are ignored, it leaves the door open for the smart ones to cruise through. Here are some hints and tips to get you started.

Organisational Savvy: If you’ve never encountered this term before, this is a good place to start. ‘Org Savvy’, as it is frequently referred to, is about knowing your way around the company, its politics and its power centres. You must know who the ‘players’ are, who has influence and where the minefields are located. There are many books and seminars abroad that cover this subject. The idea is not for you to become manipulative but to know how to protect and progress your career. Taking on a mentor is another way to help yourself but there are downsides of this as well.

Knowing the culture of the organisation — its dos and don’ts, its accepted behaviours and taboos — is an essential aspect of ‘Org Savvy’. Too often we come in with our foreign degrees and fake accents and try and get familiar with senior colleagues who don’t appreciate our camaraderie. Respect peoples’ age and years of service by being polite and reserved; use the first names of senior colleagues, and those obviously of the ‘old school’, only if they have given you permission. I have seen companies where it is common to refer to everyone as ‘bhai’ — and to older colleagues as ‘saab’ — so be aware of this.

Dress to fit in but keep your individuality as well. This means if the environment is on the conservative side, find a way to bring some touches to your style that reflect your personality while not offending the sensibilities of those around you.

Personal Excellence: If I were to make a list of personal attributes required to succeed (assuming you already know the professional ones), it would be rather long and contain what some may call ‘obvious’ and mundane stuff. And although I am allergic to the word ‘excellence’ (overused and abused), it is probably the best description of what we should aspire to. Whether it be things as simple as punctuality or a handwritten note, to more complex stuff like delivering major projects, what will distinguish you from the rest will be the quality of your work and the manner in which you got it done. Simple courtesies and consideration for others, personal hygiene and an appropriate dress sense, collaborating and cooperating with colleagues, being a part of company activities and volunteering to lead — these are just some of the many things we tend to ignore. None of these personal traits are taught in schools and colleges but are certainly learned along the way.

‘Refinement’ and ‘elegance’ are not too frequently used to describe colleagues, perhaps because we don’t get to see it. So how do you create that edge for yourself? Certainly by adopting the attributes mentioned above. These are not divine gifts but something we all need to be aware of and make a part of our personality. Working on ourselves — inside and out — is a continuous process of improvement and you should approach it as a ‘labour of love’. After all, it is YOU who is going to benefit.

Networking: Who you know and who knows you are of vital importance along the way. This applies equally to your life inside and outside of work. Think of it this way: if you were a product or service, why would anyone choose you over any other competing offer? There has to be an element of ‘knowing what you’re getting’. So if no one know you, what do you think the outcome will be?

Too often we stick to our little circle of colleagues and friends and do not open ourselves up to new experiences. Even our socialising after work is within this small group. By actively expanding our horizons, we gain access to newer people of influence and/or opportunities to promote our work and social interests.

Courtesy and Manners: The spit and polish of courtesy and good manners cannot be underestimated. We can lose out on so much by our crude or boorish behaviour. Manners reflect on our breeding (in other words, our families) and we don’t want to create a bad impression, do we? So paying attention to social graces, table manners, etiquette and just plain old thoughtfulness will take you a long way.

If I sum up the discussion so far: what you know and what you do are two different things. What you do and how you do it are also different. So if you are just relying on a good degree or good connections to take you places, well they will. But only up to a certain point. Then it comes down to consistent performance coupled with professional and personal excellence that will make the difference.

Good luck.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2010.