How to Climb the Corporate Ladder – In 3 Steps

 

How to Climb the Corporate Ladder – In 3 Steps

By Mr. Self Development

According to Harvey Coleman’s book “Empowering Yourself,” success at work depends on three critical elements, and today I want to discuss those three elements from least important to most important.
# 1: Performance
The least important component of your success at work is your performance on the job.
While great performance is critical to success, Harvey proposes that it only accounts for 10% of what is needed to succeed (i.e. get promoted).
If you rely solely on being a great performer (e.g. being a great worker bee, turning in projects on time, broadening your knowledge base, etc.), this will not take you very far in your career.  The people working the hardest aren’t necessarily the ones being promoted.  Although great performance is critical to success, it’s only the starting point, not the finish line.

#2: Image
The next element to success is your image.  According to Harvey, image accounts for 30% of what is needed to succeed at work: thirty percent, or three times as much as your performance.
Your image refers to how you are perceived.  
Are you perceived as someone with a great attitude?  Do people like to work with you? Do you offer solutions versus problems?  Are you consistent?  Are you perceived as being extremely professional?  I hope so, because your image is a critical piece to the puzzle.
While your manager can help with your image, you are primarily responsible for how you are perceived at work.
#3: Exposure
Finally, Harvey says that 60% of your success at work will be credited to the amount of exposure you receive!
Bear in mind, exposure is an element that you should avoid …until you are a great performer with a great image.  If poor performance is exposed, it may ruin your career.
If a poor image is exposed, it may take years to get the bitter taste out of peoples’ mouths.  Exposure is a double-edged sword; you don’t want it until you’re ready for it, because it can make you or break you.
When I talk about exposure, I’m talking about who knows what you do for the organization.  Does your boss, and his or her boss, as well as their peers know you?  Have they read what you’ve written, have they seen you present, are they aware of the work that you do for the company, are they aware of your last great idea that was successfully implemented, are they aware of the idea that you are planning on implementing next month that will save the organization thousands of dollars; are you visible?
Exposure is critical because people are not comfortable building the future of an organization on individuals they do not know.  Your management team has to know you, and they have to know what you bring to the organization.
In Closing
You have to have the whole PIE (Performance, Image, Exposure).  Once you have the proper image and are perceived as a top performer, work to gain exposure!  If you do this, you will be positioned for success.  Don’t just be a worker bee, be the King bee!