2024-09-23 03:14:32
Career development depends on your achievements, but also on how your boss and colleagues see you
“The right person” is a special project of “24 hours” about professional success, career growth, personal development, workplace relations, about good practices of employers, about news from the HR sector and management, about the labor market and vacancies .
Don’t wear a mask, be yourself, some career development experts advise.
Nothing of the sort, one cannot succeed if one is so keen on one’s authenticity that one does not consider one’s environment, argue other experts.
Which ones are right? The facts say that it is more likely the latter.
Whether you get hired, promoted, or fired depends largely on what others—your boss, your colleagues, your partners—think of you. It of course depends on the things you do or don’t do. But also by the way you make others see these things.
There are few things at work that are more important than reputation management, assures Tomas Chamorro-Premužić, psychologist and talent management expert. It is critical to your professional success. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the preferences of your boss, to behave well with your colleagues, to be consistent in your words and actions.
1. Get to know your boss
“Research shows that you will present yourself in a better light and make a better impression when you learn to decode your boss’s interactions with his subordinates. This may sound like something out of a Machiavelli book, but the reality is – “Most managers give high ratings to employees they get along with better. Sometimes, it affects the most talented ones who refuse to please their boss. Whether you want to accept it or not, many people get rewarded for it.” the way they behave, not so much about their contribution.”
Your professional success is directly proportional to your ability to understand and predict the behavior of your supervisor. No tactic to leave a good impression will be effective if it is not supported by knowledge of the way he sees the world – what he likes and what he does not.
It is not very difficult to get this knowledge. Simple take time to observe your supervisor’s behavior at work.
For example, the overcontroller values his subordinates more highly, who constantly report back to him on what they are doing. Thus, he thinks that they work a lot, accordingly, they have a higher reputation in front of him.
The manager who likes to allocate tasks, delegate responsibilities and is interested in the achieved result gets irritated when employees bother him with the details of the current performance. He considers this a manifestation of professional incompetence.
Naturally, you are making a big mistake if you focus only on a good reputation with the higher levels of the hierarchy. How your coworkers perceive you has a big impact on how your boss perceives you.
2. Do you feel like you are of one breed
The opinion of others about you depends to a large extent on how much you remind them of themselves, whether you share their values and views. People like those they are similar to more.
You should not be complete conformists ie. to always agree with the prevailing opinion, regardless of what you actually think. If you have carefully considered that different behavior from the mainstream may be more correct and more successful, then follow it. Be careful when and how often. Usually, the environment imposes norms and rejects those people who do not follow them.
By observing your colleagues together and individually, you will get to know their worldview. You will understand what their priorities are, you will know how to build a meaningful relationship with them.
Pay particular attention to the feelings of others. “When dealing with people, remember that you are dealing not with logical beings, but with emotional beings. Beings who are prejudiced and who are motivated by pride and vanity,” says psychologist Dale Carnegie.
There is one a quality with which you will always enjoy an excellent reputation – empathy. I.e. you must develop the skill and habit of putting yourself in the shoes of others in a variety of situations.
In today’s world, it is considered normal for people to be obsessed with self-centeredness and think only of their own needs and wants. If you act in a way that creates the belief that you care about the needs of others, you will gain sympathy.
And when it comes to yourselves, always think about what you say and show others. They are also watching you. You manage your reputation by controlling what information is disclosed and shared. You should neither over-promote nor underestimate yourself.
You will always win if you reduce narcissism in your relationships and pay more attention to others. The goal is to make your interlocutor feel respected. Then he will think good things about you.
3. Consistency vs. cyclophrenia
According to studies, people prefer colleagues who are consistent in their behavior. Any atypical, chaotic and unpredictable actions reflect badly on the reputation.
Cyclophrenic behavior – one day friendly and responsive, the next hot-tempered and sullen, are extremely irritating. Sentiments should be left at the office door.
Indeed, if there is a truly correct definition of the much-vaunted “authenticity,” it has to do with the principle of consistency. We wouldn’t call a person authentic who hasn’t previously demonstrated a high degree of consistency in everything they say and do. Of course, it’s preferable to be consistent in your empathy, but if your character isn’t, people they will be more willing to accept you despite all your flaws if they get used to themexplains Tomas Chamorro-Premužić.
His advice is in the works always be aware of the environment. And if you do want to put the uncensored version of your identity on full display, you might as well do it in front of your friends and family, because they’ve probably learned to love (or at least tolerate) you for all your flaws.
—– The power of first impressions
Don’t underestimate its role, especially in your business relationships. The wise advice “Never judge a book by its cover” is often used, but the truth is that you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression, reminds Tomas Chamorro-Premužić.
Research is conclusive that most people make judgments about other people’s intelligence and character within 30 seconds since their first meeting. Moreover, these seemingly hasty conclusions very often turn out to be quite accurate, the psychologist points out.
Also, always try to look in a way that matches the environment. This is how you fit in and improve your reputation. Physical attractiveness also matters. Improve it as much as you can. Women should not neglect hair and makeup. Excess weight is not a plus for appearance. According to research, in business relationships as well, people who are considered physically attractive by others enjoy a higher reputation.
In “The Right Man” you can read more:
Work is (not) everything. But where is it in your self-concept
“It can’t be done” – a signal of a wrong mindset that boycotts success
6 steps to extract added value from every critique and ensure your success
Science fact: Your happiness at work is a precursor to your success
The wrong social comparison boycotts success
How do you get along with your salary?
Change continues, but why doesn’t it always win
You earn more success by working “on trust”
Circle of influence determines success. Three practical steps to be on the right track
10 signs of an unhappy company with a bad owner