Most of us have found ourselves working exclusively from home in the last 2 years, in which time we’ve been adjusting to all sorts of change whether that be setting up a home office or coping with juggling childcare and work itself.
But now as we enter a new phase of our covid world, in which we know this isn’t simply going to ‘blow over’, the time has come for us to refocus on the things that were important before covid-19 was something we had even heard of. Within this is career development, but in the absence of those water cooler chats and chance meetings in the coffee bar, how can we be proactive, continue to build our reputation and stay visible?
Slow down
I’ve noticed through client discussions that people are feeling the increasing ‘transactional’ nature of interactions. So rather than finding time to talk about the weather, how the kids are doing at school or even what we had for dinner last night, we’re getting right down to business and moving from conversation to conversation with speed. The truth is that we’re all getting ‘zoom fatigue’, right? Remember at the start of lockdown when everyone was doing quizzes with their friends? That soon stopped because everyone got sick of looking at a screen all day. So what can you do?
A simple habit to get into when on any and every call is to take the time to ask ‘how are you?’ and truly listen to the answer. Try not to rush. Maybe suggest you both bring a cuppa to the meeting (or lunch maybe) to slow down the pace. Take the time to ask the other person what else they’re working on, or how they are feeling. They will no doubt ask you the same when given the cue. These organic conversations often lead to opportunities whether they be to volunteer for some work, or even to simply offer a viewpoint.
Know what you want to say
Broadening our network is one thing, but having something meaningful to say is quite another. We know that reputation is key to building a successful career and obtaining new opportunities and jobs, but how can you do that in this current environment?
Understanding your own strengths and motivations, i.e. what you love doing and why, and being able to articulate them in an engaging way is a great way of building new relationships and also making sure those first meeting with new stakeholders are worth the other person’s time. By being able to tell your ‘story’ and bring to life your successes and interests, you’ll find yourself front of mind whenever they hear of a new project or even perhaps need to recruit for their own team. Try not to think of this as a fake and over-curated ‘elevator pitch’, but rather a way of talking about what makes you tick. It feels far less forced and you’re more likely to enjoy the conversation too!
If you need some support with establishing and articulating your Strengths and Motivations, I have some excellent tools that I use with many clients, so do get in touch.
Be brave
When it comes to broadening your network, a key element of any career progression strategy, you will need think outside the box and also employ a bit of self-discipline.
A good starting point is to plan – who do you want to meet, and why? Can you create what I call a ‘network heat map’ – a brainstorm on one page of your network so you can identify potential gaps and areas to explore. Once you’ve done that, you can see where you need to go first, and then more importantly who you may need to speak to.
Once you’ve got that list of names (if you’re struggling, speak to your Line Manager or members of your team who may be able to help), then you need to plan how you will contact them. Practically speaking, to ensure you keep momentum maybe you could set yourself the target of having a ‘virtual coffee’ with someone new once per week. Try to set that time in your diary so you don’t let it slip (which is easy to do!).
Now, how to get in front of that person. If they are very senior, you may have to speak to their PA. Could someone else you know perhaps introduce you via email/phone/zoom? Or do you simply need to call them and ask for some time? Either way, be clear with them that you’re keen to speak because you’re interested in their area of work and would like to know more. Then when you do speak it’ll be easy for them to understand the purpose (and more likely they will accept your appointment!). Be sure to take the lead in setting up the meeting, adding any dial in details. Also – this is very basic – but also make sure you’re not late!
TAKE AWAY
It’s all too easy to sit behind our computers in this current environment and let our careers pass us by silently. A simple way to keep building your reputation is to proactively broaden your network, taking the time to talk to others about what you love doing and why. This way, your visibility will still be there and people will think of you as and when opportunities arise. Key to succeeding here is to plan your approach, ensuring you keep momentum.
Don’t let 2020-2022 be the years that your career stood still! We’ve all had to employ resilience and adaptability in these times, so that’s a great conversation starter in any case, isn’t it!
If you need any career support or even just fancy a chat, please do reach out. [email protected]