Even though H.G. Wells wrote his famous story “The Invisible Man” more than 100 years ago, he might as well have been writing about you. At work, you’ve been passed over for a promotion more than once, and you’re never the go-to person when your boss is under a tight deadline.
If this is the case, it’s time to think about increasing your visibility.
While it’s always important to be a standout among your peers, building your value and distinguishing yourself at work are even more essential in these times. Some firms may still be reducing the size of their work force, while others are looking for new leaders to help guide the organization during the recovery.
Following are some strategies and tactics to help you increase your visibility:
1. Enhance your PR efforts
Your lack of visibility may simply be the result of a poor public relations effort on your part. Does your boss know what projects you’ve been working on? Consider preparing a regular report that details your key assignments and contributions that you can present to your manager at touch-base meetings. Also mention any compliments or thanks you’ve received from others for your work.
2. Don’t be a wallflower
Before you attend meetings, review the agenda and look for areas where you can provide input on the topics at hand. Don’t be shy about offering your ideas. You might also seek opportunities to make presentations at upcoming gatherings, such as giving an overview of your department’s duties during new-hire orientations or outlining your team’s product idea to company executives.
3. Know your weaknesses — and strengths
Before you seek ways to promote yourself, take an honest look at your professional abilities. Although you should strive to address any weaknesses, pay particular attention to improvements that could help you perform your job better or add value to the firm. Perhaps there’s a regular need for individuals in your group to send out memos to other departments or outside clients. Improving your writing skills could help you take on some of these responsibilities.
It’s also useful to know your strengths so you can seek out opportunities to use them and eventually build a reputation as an expert in a certain area. For example, do you have strong organizational skills? Volunteer to set the agenda, plan activities and take notes for a two-day summit meeting between your department and regional counterparts who are flying in for the gathering.
If you’re not sure what your strengths and weaknesses are — or want to be certain your self-assessment is on target — consult a mentor for candid feedback.
4. Show initiative
Everyone has been in meetings where silence greets the person asking for volunteers for a particular project. But taking on extra tasks outside your primary duties, especially those that no one else seems to want, is a good way to increase your visibility. You’ll show that you’re a valuable collaborator and be able to strengthen or enhance your skill set. Also be on the lookout for cross-departmental projects. Participating in these initiatives is an excellent way to build name recognition throughout the company and expand your base of internal contacts.
5. Look for cost-cutting measures
All companies continue to look for ways to save costs. Do you have a suggestion for helping your firm accomplish this goal? Write a brief memo containing your idea and an overview of how you’d implement it to present to your manager. You’ll position yourself as cost-conscious and committed to the company’s success.
6. Look at the big picture
A lack of professionalism or legacy of poor choices could give you the visibility you seek, but for the wrong reasons. Consider the leaders of the major automakers who flew corporate jets to beg Congress for taxpayer bailouts. That image of corporate excess in the midst of a financial crisis gave them a spotlight they would rather not have had. So make sure you don’t undermine your efforts to build a positive reputation with poor choices.
Becoming the Visible Man, or Woman, won’t happen overnight. But with the right approach, you’ll steadily build awareness of your skills and contributions.
Via: CareerBuilder.com
