From an entry level job in Diamond Bank to teaching electronics in Carnegie Mellon University, besides everything, these two things have worked for me: becoming Visible and demonstrating Thought-leadership (“the expression of ideas that demonstrate you have expertise in a particular field, area, or topic”).
Yes, as 2023 arrives, I want you to upgrade your professional playbook and become more visible in your professional community. And as that happens, showcase that you sabi (you know). Of course, showcasing that you sabi does not make you proud neither does it mean you know it all. It simply means that you are telling people that you know something, and available whenever someone with that capability is required.
Until people can recommend you in your absence, your career will not advance. And how can they recommend you when they do not know that you know? Get out of that timid mindset and write (or make) your first professional article (or video). LinkedIn, Facebook, corporate newsletters, newspapers, etc can host them.
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In 2023, invest time to deepen the archives of your thought-leadership and scale your webinality
The following are some suggestions on how to build a professional online persona. It is establishing your web personality (webinality) to explain that person you are.
Presence: Open at least one social media or blog account.
Specialize: Define an area of interest and build around it. A five-minute online search should reveal what you represent. You need to differentiate yourself and showcase your core skills and unique capabilities to potential hiring managers.
Accuracy: Always remember that once that post goes online, you may not control who sees it. If you lie on your accomplishments, your classmate or co-worker is just an IP address away from challenging it. Make it accurate – always, otherwise, you will destroy your persona.
Comprehensive: While blog should be short, once in a while, develop comprehensive articles in your field and post them online. It could mean expanding a class project you worked on, adding more contents, and fully proving your expertise. Half-baked contents will not take you too far.
Judgment: What you post or share online defines who you are. Your profile defines you – values, interests and reliability. For employers, they want reliable team leaders and you must not offer less in your web personality.
Vertical Integration: Seek to connect with people ahead of you professionally while building a horizontally network.
Generosity: Share and exchange good ideas. Invite people to your network and be generous to promote good ideas from others. Write professional reviews on books, journals and articles. In no distant time, people will reward you.
Policy Matters: If you are working, ensure you adhere to policies on using the company’s name online. There is a threat that you could be a source of data leakage that can hurt competitiveness. Your profile must not be another portrait of your employer – you must be wise to separate both, where necessary.
Continuity: Professional online branding is a continuous work-in-progress that requires constant tune-ups of networks, contents and profiles. It must be constantly nurtured.
Let Humans Speak for You
Work is inanimate and does not talk; only humans do. Until you make it easier for humans to speak on your behalf, your career will not thrive.
If your boss is the type who does not like to share accolades, here is what to do: draft a lesson learned report, put your name and share with everyone – and politely ask for feedback for the final report. By then, the words are out on who did what.
When humans speak on your behalf, besides the vibes from your “work”, you will experience a massive acceleration on your leadership and professional ascent. Make it happen in 2023.
Comment on Feed
Comment: This is a million dollar advice. Even in the corporate world, it is not necessarily the ‘best’ employees but the ‘visible’ ones that get ahead of others.
Our offerings and contributions must not only be good, they must be properly positioned for visibility. Respond to requests to undertake ad hoc tasks, speak up, ask intelligent questions and make useful contributions at workplace meetings. Seek for and embrace opportunities to attend high level and networking meetings. Showcase your knowledge and work portfolio. When you know you will be known.
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In other words, invest in your communication skills, make your capabilities and competencies loud, not noisy. Raise the quality of your conversations. Shekina.
A good read thanks for this relearning piece
Thanks for this invaluable information. Quite true that work alone does not speak, one has to intentionally make himself and his expertise visible to others.
Gold.
Thanks for this invaluable information. Quite true that work alone does not speak, one has to intentionally make himself and his expertise visible to others.
Thanks for this reading. Was worth it.