Mind Tools for Managers

Chapter 16Get Ahead in the Wider Organization

It's tempting to believe that doing a good job is enough to get you noticed – and promoted. Unfortunately, this is often not true.

Organizations are complex social structures where personal relationships matter and where good performance is multifaceted and somewhat subjective. They are also inherently competitive – there are fewer opportunities for promotion than there are qualified candidates, so you don't just have to be good; you have to better than others.

Another way to make the same point is to put yourself in your boss's shoes for a minute. She may have half a dozen other people reporting to her, she has deliverables and projects of her own, she is worried about her own career prospects, and she may have nonwork interests and distractions as well. How much attention does she actually pay to your individual performance and your career prospects? The answer is “Probably not as much as you would like.” The onus, therefore, lies with you to build visibility and influence in the wider organization so that you get the opportunities you deserve.

Doing this isn't just about getting promoted. There is a second and equally important benefit, namely that many of the projects you are working on require coordination across departments. To be effective, you have to rely on others, and the more people know and value you, the easier it is to get their willing cooperation.

This section offers five techniques designed to help you work more ...