A couple of years ago, I was working with a senior female leader who had just landed her first global role. Before that she was leading one functional area, on one continent in the Asia Pacific region of the company.
When the organization launched a new global program, it could have tapped any number of leaders internally to stand it up. There were plenty of people who were more qualified than she was, on paper. But in the end, they chose her.
Heads rolled in confusion because everyone knew that she had no prior experience to step into this role. This was a technical program, and she came from finance.
Why did they pick her? Because she could do one thing really well. She could make things happen. By that I mean, she had built a reputation for corralling people to get the job done. If she didn’t know how to figure out something, she plucked someone who did.
Still she was nervous. She knew she had to skill up to lead in this new tech territory. But she leaned on what she was known for – leadership. They could have asked her to implement a new basket weaving program, she would have taken it on, and figured it out.
I share this with you for one reason. I know there are lots of things that you do well and are known and appreciated for. When you’re on an interview or having your performance review or are in any setting where you have an opportunity to sell yourself, I want you to lean into that and own it.
I work with many professionals who happily build their careers over years, working hard, ready to advance further or make a career transition. However, they say it feels like they’re spinning their wheels, how can they take all that they’ve done and really SELL it? I know that feeling all too well. It feels like you’re pressing the gas pedal in your car, but you’ve also got the parking brake on at the same time.
If you had to share, what is that one thing that you believe you are valued for?
What would you want the next person who hires you, your next client or existing management, to know? Focus on that one thing and keep digging in further, why you feel so strongly about it. They want to see your belief in yourself. They want to feel your confident conviction. We live in a feeling universe, which gives us so much permission not to worry about the perfect words we choose. People will feel your intention.
Also, don’t worry if not everyone would agree with you You’re not in the people-pleasing business and this isn’t a popularity contest. You’ve come this far. What has really worked for you and what do you believe you can package and “run with” somewhere else? Should you decide to stay where you are, what assets can you leverage to grow further to achieve a new title, bigger role, higher compensation, or all of the above?
This week set aside some quiet time, visit any body of water if you can, and listen to your gut. What will you lead with? Your instinct knows.
A question I often ask myself: “what am I pretending not to know?”
With guts and grace, you design a career (and life) that you love. This is gutsy freedom at its finest.
To your career success,
Own Your Authority in your Career.
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