By Ora Shtull
Why are some professionals able to get promoted quickly while others get stuck in the same job with the same title and the same responsibilities year after year?
While it sometimes seems like a mystery, it’s rather simple. There are 13 things all successful professionals do to fuel their careers. Are you doing them? If you’re not engaged in mastering these fundamentals, there’s bad news: you’re not ready for a promotion. But, there’s good news too: see #13 below. With support, you too can blast the ceiling off your career.
Here’s what all successful women do to propel their careers forward:
- They communicate with oomph.
Successful professionals talk so people listen. They clearly and succinctly deliver updates and share opinions. They emphasize the impact their actions have on the bottom line. They tailor their messages for their audiences. And even when they know zip about a topic, they speak up and add value by offering insights from experience, connecting dots, and asking strategic questions.
- They listen.
Professionals on the rise don’t shove their brilliant ideas down others’ throats. They listen to other perspectives and stay open to learning. They take to time to acknowledge others’ perspectives. And only then, do they advocate politely for their own points of view.
- They look good.
Successful women take advantage of the halo effect – the tendency we all have to think that attractive people have more desirable personalities and skill sets than others of average appearance. They don’t get lazy about dress and grooming. They move with comfort and confidence.
- They’re likable.
Accomplished women have a positive attitude, greeting every person with a smile and every project with enthusiasm. They are quick to thank, compliment, and praise others. They’re generous with their time and help. They also know that happiness is tied to success, and they’re fearless about openly sharing what brings them joy.
- They use their superpowers.
Successful professionals know the strengths that set them apart from their peers and make them visible and compelling to decision-makers. They integrate their strengths into all that they do. Sure, they also address areas of opportunity. But, they spend more time leveraging their superpowers than worrying about fatal flaws.
- They make their bosses look good.
Savvy women recognize that bosses are people just like them, but with different pressures. They make their boss’s success a personal priority and take the time to understand how they can be helpful. They acknowledge their boss’s superpowers privately and publically and never (ever) badmouth them.
- They don’t eat lunch alone.
Successful professionals understand that careers are built on relationships and that communicating exclusively via email is not the recipe for success. They make time to connect personally, especially outside of the office, over lunch or drinks.
- They stretch.
High-achieving women would rather be productive and stimulated than busy and bored. They habitually set goals and review progress. They say “yes” to things that make their stomachs churn (like making presentations to seniors), because challenge equals growth. They hate feeling stuck, so they’re proactive about seeking help from advisors, mentors and coaches.
- They create capacity.
Smart professionals don’t let others fill up all the white space on their calendars. They consciously manage their time to avoid feeling overwhelmed and to create more capacity to do valuable work. They delegate the shallow stuff so that they can take on deeper, more senior-level stuff.
- They don’t think self-promotion is a dirty word.
Wildly successful people know that when they’re up for promotion, excellent work is as important as positive perception. They consciously make a memorable mark with every email they write, meeting they lead, or presentation they deliver. They share the impact of their work broadly so that they are easily chosen to do more of the great stuff they love doing.
- They have a compelling virtual footprint.
Women on the rise recognize that first impressions are often formed online so they create a digital footprint that is congruent with their in-person brand. They have stellar LinkedIn profiles and share valuably online, prompting others to connect with them eagerly.
- They care for their bodies.
Smart women like to accomplish a lot in a day, so they optimize their energy with habits that nourish the body. They understand that good health is the foundation of career success and they commit to eating well, exercising, sleeping, and reducing stress.
- They invest in themselves.
Wildly successful professionals know that learners are earners. They are curious, interested, interesting, and welcome challenge. They are not afraid to ask for support. They invest time and money in opportunities to help them learn, grow, and get promoted. Leadership events such as The Win Summit give women the opportunity to learn tools, tactics & strategies to be more effective in the workplace while networking with like-minded women.
If you’re feeling confident after reading all 13 things, congratulations! You are ready for promotion! But don’t rest on your laurels; take it up a notch. Consider scheduling a meeting with someone you can talk to about opportunities to contribute at a more senior level.
You might be feeling that it’s time to amp up your focus on performance and perception. Identify one of the 13 areas where you need to focus. Think of someone who is a rock star in that area. Make it your intention to observe and learn from her.
And finally, if you’re feeling that it’s time to add some fuel to your fire, commit to one action that will make you look or sound more senior.
No one should be left behind. Seek support and invest in yourself!
About the author
ORA is a NYC Executive Coach who helps high-potential executives in Fortune 100 companies thrive and get promoted. She is the author of The Glass Elevator: A Guide to Leadership Presence for Women on the Rise and co-founder of CareerBlast, a micro-learning video platform for busy, ambitious professionals to fuel their careers.