Category Archives: Stand out and Get Noticed

3 Ways Remarkable Leaders Get Noticed

Drive Your Ideas Upward

You’ve always been a star worker—respected by your peers and looked up to by your employees. Using your quick wits and technical skills, rising up the ranks was smooth sailing until you moved to a larger firm.

Then the recognition stopped.

You took on the responsibility with zeal and excitement, awaiting the same recognition and esteem—only to find that you’re now surrounded by other star workers, each with their own unique skill set and talents, and you find it hard to stand out from your peers.

The star status that seemed effortless at one time seems to be getting harder and harder to achieve with the tougher competition. You strive to get noticed as you see others shining in the limelight of success. You might even witness someone else taking credit for your hard work.

But you’re not alone.

If you identify with the above, you’re in good company. As … Continue reading How to Shine When the Competition Gets Tough →

Even in the best of times, much uncertainty fills the job market. Certain functions could be automated, and other jobs could be sent offshore. How do you ensure your success in these perilous times?

No matter what level you’re at in your organization, the last thing you should do is to go unnoticed by burying your head in the sand. Those who think being “invisible” will somehow protect them from losing their jobs are highly mistaken.

Show what makes you stand out.

Companies are always looking for leaders to come forward and take initiative. Do you have something special to offer? You need to take action so that when the next round of layoffs comes, your job will be safe.

This is your opportunity to stand out from the crowd and show the world what you’ve got. If you can perfectly position yourself to take advantage of the current situation and … Continue reading Don’t Be Broken, Be Golden and Stand Out →

Are you asking yourself the question, “How do I increase visibility at work?” If you’re not, you should be. According to executive coach Joel Garfinkle, increasing your visibility and getting known in your organization is critical to landing the promotion you want, getting others to value your work, and getting ahead in your career.

So how do you judge if you’re visible enough or not? Here are three warning signs to help you determine whether you need to work on being more visible:

Warning #1: You pay no attention to branding.

Branding or creating a unique identity for yourself is crucial. Without creating your personal brand it can be incredibly difficult to stand out. Let’s face it: Your firm may be saturated with talented people just like you doing the exact same thing. So how do you Continue reading 3 Warning Signs That You Need to Increase Visibility at Work →

Amelia asks: I’ve grown a lot more confident over the past year at my job. Now I need to learn how to stand out at work, because I’m looking toward a promotion. What steps should I take to make that happen?

Joel replies: Maybe you’ve played it safe in the past, figuring your good work should speak for itself. But you’re right—it won’t. You need a plan for catching the eye of those with influence in your organization, or they’ll never notice you. You need to speak up, be more confident and assertive at work.

Create a Personal Brand

Just as products need branding, so do people. Here’s how to create your personal brand:

Ask yourself what qualities make you who you are, including your shortcomings and idiosyncrasies. People who stand out at work are known for being their authentic selves. They know … Continue reading Standing out at Work →

Client Susan asks: I am scared to be more visible and take on more responsibility. However, I’ve seen how much my career has been limited by the lack of opportunities. I’m fed-up and ready to take the necessary steps to gain more visibility.

Coach Joel answers: Visibility is the secret sauce to growing your career. Help you create opportunities to interact with people in other departments. Show others how talented and how great you are. Take on projects that will not just have more visibility, but more influence, impact and value to the firm.  Here are three steps you can take right now to overcome fear and gain visibility:

List your talents and strengths.

You have unique strengths and assets you bring to the job. Write down all your skills and talents.  What do you do well?  What comes easily to you?  You were hired … Continue reading Is Fear Holding You Back from Success? →

Geoffrey’s been totally focused on doing the best job he can.  He’s been very intent on making sure his job gets done, and done right.  He felt sure this would help him advance his career more quickly.

But when his boss didn’t seem to value Geoffrey’s contributions, he got concerned. What did his boss really want?  Why wasn’t doing his job, good enough?

His goal was executive leadership. To do that, he realized he needed to make some changes.

He needed to make sure his work corresponded with the priorities of his boss and of the CEO.

Here are four things Geoffrey did to align his views with the current executive leadership.

Assess.

Spend time thinking about what the CEO might be thinking about.  Put yourself into his place.  What do you think keeps him awake at night?  What worries him? What are the … Continue reading When Your Job Is Not Good Enough →

Janet feels like a wren in a cage full of peacocks. Surrounded by superstars with lots of creative credentials, she has trouble getting noticed in staff meetings or even at coffee. She has heard some of her colleagues talk about the personal leadership coaches they work with, but she’s not even sure what that is, let alone how to find a good one.

Janet knows she needs more than just a boost in her self-confidence—she needs a personal brand that will enhance her image and grow her visibility. She begins with some self-analysis and decides there are three steps she will take immediately.

Accentuate the positive Act as if Ask for opportunities 1. Accentuate the positive.

Janet knows that there are plenty of areas where she’s at the top of her game. But when she’s surrounded by other superstars, it’s tough to be noticed. She begins by questioning her colleagues. When … Continue reading Let Your Light Shine: How to Stand Out from the Crowd at Work →

Jonathan is a valued member of his company – over the past few years, he has become a solid performer and a cheerleader for others his team. His colleagues know they can rely on him and his peers are always eager to have him on their next project. But Jonathan is feeling like the senior managers are never going to take notice of all his hard work. In our coaching sessions, Jonathan and I have worked on a plan to have him stand out and be noticed. Do you need a similar plan? Does this describe you?

You’ve put in your time, built your skillset, proven your value and become a solid, consistent and reliable member of the team. Your colleagues (and maybe your staff) look to you to for advice and leadership – in your group, your opinion matters. Now it’s time to take those … Continue reading Stand Out at Work – #1 Key for Advancement →