Articles on Career Matters:

Unconventional ways of climbing the corporate ladder

One of the common questions that I faced while going for friends gathering was ‘Frank, how did you manage to climb the corporate ladder so steadily fast previously?’. That is a very good question! The typical answer that I gave them was that, you need to learn to market yourself!

Even though nowadays, I am more into coaching people in setting up business systems. The past working life is still very vivid in my mind.

Marketing does not only belong to entrepreneurs in business, it also belongs to people who are working for others. Unless you are able to market yourself, if not, in high probability you will be stuck in your position. In my previous work, there were many colleagues who were very good doers however they were never recognized in their professional life through promotions.

Below I have listed some strategies that can help you in climbing the corporate ladder. However, in employing these strategies, it must be under girded with sincerity and genuineness, in treating your bosses and colleagues.

The strategies that I have suggested do not guarantee you that you will be promoted but it will definitely increase your probability of getting one.

1 If given a choice, go for a boss that is a great leader

Conventionally, people think that it is always good to work for an average or below average immediate leader/ boss. Thinking that, there will be greater opportunity for you to outshine your boss. However, that may not always be true, because your boss who is not so competent, is not climbing the corporate, he/she will not want their staff to climb above him/her. So during the promotion exercise, they will not fight for you.

For great leaders, they are able and dare to stick out their neck for you when there is a promotion exercise. This will greatly increases your probability of getting a promotion. These leaders also understand that unless somebody can fill his/her position, if not he/she cannot go further up in the corporate ladder.

2 Treat your boss as your main client

You must know your boss well! You must know what he/she value as important. What they value as important must be attended first. Treat him/her as your key client.

Whenever your boss sends you an email always give an immediate response to it. You may not have the answers to the questions posted, but it shows to your boss that you put his request at the highest priority and that you show a lot of respect to him. He/she will be greatly delighted with you.

3 Talk to your boss and other superiors as peers.

One of the greatest difficulties is to call your boss by his name, when everybody call him/her by ‘Mr’ or ‘Mdm’. You need to take courage to make a break through in this area.

The best time to address this issue is when you were first introduced to your new boss. Always ask him/her, whether he/she mind you calling them by their name. Usually, they will tell you is ok.

I remembered previously, I called a lady superior who is not my immediate boss. During our tele-conversation, I asked her whether she minds me calling her by her name, as I find that calling her Mdm makes her sound so old, in which she is not. She was very flattered. Guess what was her answer? A delightful yes! Of course, over here I must state that you must really mean what you say and not to do it for the sake of licking boots.

Why is it important to speak to your boss and other superiors as peers? This is because the kind of people that you mix with, will determine how far you can go in your career. One of the famous motivation guru, once said that ‘Whom you mix with everyday, will determine who you will become.”


4 In any meetings try to sit as close to your boss as close as possible.

Where you sit in a meeting depicts how close you are to the boss. Generally, majority of the colleagues will not want to sit near their boss during meeting. They are doing themselves a great disfavor.

There are great advantages in sitting close to your boss during meeting. Firstly, the boss will think that you are a self-confident person, which is why you dare to sit with him/her. Secondly, it is always a good tactic to cause all your other colleagues thinking that you are close to the boss. You being close to the boss, they tend to be more cooperative with you.


5 Brand yourself

You must brand yourself so that everyone in the office knows who you are. Recently, I was talking to a friend, his Christian name is Alvin. Alvin is such a common name, how would anybody remember that name, especially in a big organization. As he has quite a big built, I gave him two suggestions, One is ‘Big Alvin’ and the other is ‘Alvin the Giant’. 

Your name must be easily remembered by all your superiors. Of course, the downside is that if you have made a mistake everyone knows is you.

6 If you have done well in something blow it, make sure all your bosses know.

In the Asian culture, if you have done something well, you learn to keep it to yourself, as that is a virtue called humility.

You must learn to let all our other bosses know that you have done well. One of the best ways is not through you but through an external party. For example, if you are commended well for a job by your client and your client wants to write a commendation letter to your CEO. Thank him for it and don’t behave like some typical Asians who will tell their clients that it is part of your duty and that they don’t have to do it. Gracefully accept it.

7 If you have done something wrong, tone it down.

Over here I don’t mean cover up your mistakes. There are some mistakes made that need not be conveyed to the upper management.

I know of some colleagues, when their staff made a mistake, they blew it up until a lot of colleagues know about it. They have forgotten, one very important point and that is if the staff has made mistakes, it reflects their own in ability to lead the staff. At the end of the day is that it reflects badly on them.


Well, these are all the pointers that I have to share. Always remember to treat everyone sincerely even if they are your subordinates. You don’t know when one day they may become your Boss.


Frank Ngoh
Principal Consultant
Entrepreneurship Oasis LLP
Singapore
http://www.eoasis.biz/
07 Nov 2006

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Interview Questions: Things To Think About Before The Interview

Whether you are preparing to interview, preparing to be interviewed, or just interested in conducting a quick self-analysis, the following topics tips will help you develop a perspective.

PREPARATION

If you are preparing to conduct an interview, begin with a clear definition of the roles and responsibilities for the position. Create a list of requirements, objectives and priorities associated with the position and use this as a guide to create specific questions for the TOPICS below.

If you are preparing to be interviewed, research the job description and the company profile thoroughly. This information can frequently be found on the company web site. Develop a list of potential responses and also create your own questions to ask about the position role and responsibilities as associated with the TOPICS listed below.

Even if you are not prepared to conduct an interview, or to be interviewed, you can review your current career roles and responsibilities to reflect on the following TOPICS.

TOPICS

What have you learned from your previous success?
Can you identify significant achievements that highlight your talents, skills and capabilities?
How can this knowledge and experience be leveraged to develop future success?

What have you learned from your mistakes?
Can you identify decisions or circumstances that you might change if given another opportunity?
How can this knowledge be applied to mitigate future risks?

What have you learned from your experiences and industry knowledge?
Can you identify personal experience and perspectives that make you unique?
How can unique experience or industry position be used as a strategic advantage?

What have you learned from other people?
Can you identify skills or knowledge that you have acquired from other experts, peers or mentors?
How willing and able are you to learn from the expertise of others?

What have you taught other people?
Can you identify specific skills, motivation or direction that you have shared for a positive influence to others?
How do you contribute to the community and improve your environment? How willing are you to share your knowledge?

What behavior did you learn as a child?
Can you identify specific characteristics that would best describe your behavior?
How would you describe your work ethic?

REFLECTIONS

Every individual is a unique blend of talent, skills and experiences. Character traits can be acquired or learned over the course of our childhood, education and careers. These character traits can contribute to success, reduce risk and be used to enhance the environment around us.

In some cases conflicts may arise as a result of different character traits. For example, one person may have experience shaped by previous achievements or errors that have not been experienced by another, creating significantly different perspectives. In some cases the disparity may be related to work habits or personality traits that were learned as child and not easily changed or influenced in the work environment. These conflicts can be mitigated with a better understanding of the experience that shapes another's perspective. During the interview process it is the obligation of the interviewer and the individual being interviewed to determine how well the personal experience, knowledge and character match between the person and the position. This increases the potential for future success.

If you reviewed the questions as a personal assessment, it can be a meaningful review to reflect on your contributions, motivation and impact on your environment. As a unique blend of talent, skills and experience, you have the opportunity to share something of yourself with those around you. In return, you have an amazing opportunity to continually develop your personal knowledge by learning from the unique experiences of those around you. What you do with these opportunities will shape your character and your potential for the future.

______________________________________________________

Words of Wisdom

"All of us learn to write in the second grade. Most of us go on to greater things."
- Bobby Knight

"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him."
- Galileo

"It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English -- up to fifty words used in correct context -- no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese."
- Carl Sagan

______________________________________________________

You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.

John Mehrmann
17 Dec 2006

John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. http://www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials