Reposition Yourself For Growth
Office Politics Is Real!
Hello guys,
Welcome to a new week! Last week, I received a lot of emails regarding how to go into product development. While product development is highly rewarding, going into this branch of tech means you have to be committed to the craft. How about you start by reading the contents here? Then proceed to do a course on Udemy? Yes! that seems more feasible. Isn’t it? To learn faster, always block out time for example, thrice a week, say 15 minutes to read up or view the videos I sent last week.
Today, we won't be talking much about tech, rather I want us to learn something about office politics, positioning ourselves for growth, influence and promotion. I've been in the corporate world and one thing I can tell you is this; no matter how good or dedicated you're on the job, you must make yourself, your work and your presence felt. Else, when it's time for appraisals, you'd be shocked at the response you might get from your managers.
This career advice was shared by a friend, let's call him "Mr K" so I'm going to reproduce it verbatim. Are you ready? Here we go.
1. Whenever you’re under performance review and it doesn’t go well: do yourself a favour and plan weekly meetings with your boss to track your progress on projects. Don’t wait for the one-on-one monthly or quarterly reviews. When you take the initiative to meet your boss first, it shows that you’re responsive to criticism and that you own your performance. Don’t wait until you’re under performance management or worse, under an exit plan. Fight!
2. This one happened to me; speak in meetings. Be creatively imposing. Respond to emails. Especially when you’re new. Resist the temptation to be that back of the class kid - your work alone won’t speak for you. However, speaking by itself is not an achievement. You actually need to have substance. It’s just one way of showing visibility - responding to emails, and communicating effectively are also key.
3 . Whenever you resume in a new role, ask your team lead; what are the KPIs for this role? Follow it through to the letters, and know your numbers. If you're assigned to a new project, kindly read up on past project documentation/ reports. That way, you’d know what to improve, correct and develop. Lest I forget, don’t let people’s academic records scare you. you’re in this office to deliver do it! Some folks have this clique of foreign schooled folks versus Naija schooled. Whether you’re a Great, Unique, Malabite, Akokite, Malabress, Lion or Lioness. The crown goes to the one who made an impact.
4. I also can’t stress enough that no one cares that you take a taxi to work (it’s harsh, I know) or 'flew Okada' be on time, communicate your leave issues on time, and complete your pieces of training. People have to like you and have a good time managing / working with you. Don’t be sloppy. Don't be unstable! Move like water stand like a mountain.
5. If you're level headed, you'd 'earn the trust of your superiors. According to Mr K' “I’ve sat in on meetings I shouldn’t have been on because I had the trust of my boss and colleagues” Your job is to further your boss’s and company’s interests - and make their lives easier. Shine while doing it, it’s a sin not to show that magic.
6. When it's time to move you up the ranks, don't be surprised, little things like meeting KPIs, active contributions to meetings and team 'stand-ups’ matter a lot. Imagine, when management wants to hand you a team to manage but unfortunately in meetings, they’ve never heard anything useful from you, you're always the one whose answers are predictable; " I align', well noted, awesome. Naaa! Do some research, speak up, kwụpụ okwu, sóro sóké, magana da karfi own your space else you'd end up being managed by a newly promoted intern.
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Anslem