As the government shutdown enters another week, our political leaders are getting noticed for all the wrong reasons.  They are taking stands that seem more about self-promotion and their own political careers, instead of doing what it takes for the betterment of a healthier whole – the nation and the American people.
If you managed your career this way, you wouldn’t get far either.  Advancing your career in today’s new workplace  means embracing an approach that is less about you and more about others.   This may seem too idealistic at a time when most people are operating in survival mode and doing just the opposite – thinking less about others and more  about themselves.   Employees want to get noticed and take control of their careers.   In a workplace that requires you to do  much more with fewer resources, employees are having trouble earning the respect they seek and deserve.  They are growing tired of  corporate lip service and want their supervisors to start recognizing the merit of their work and overall contributions.
Getting noticed at work has been a topic that has been debated for years.   Many believe that self-promotion gives you a leg-up while others are convinced that getting discovered is a  more organic process.   Self-promotion may allow you to get a seat at the table faster, but the odds of sustainable career advancement are much lower today than in the past.  Why?  People that have to sell themselves too aggressively are often times unprepared when the opportunity presents itself.    They are impatient and seek to cut corners.   They lack the real confidence it requires to consistently be significant; therefore they spend too much time putting on a facade.  Besides, it’s  difficult to trust the intentions of those employees that are focused more  on themselves than others.    This is one of many reasons why so many senior executives find it difficult to sponsor employees.
Getting noticed requires leadership  with wide-angle vision to connect the dots  and create maximum workplace impact.  It requires teamwork in the new workplace that unites, empowers and inspires others for the betterment of a healthier whole. It’s about having each other’s backs and everyone’s best interests at heart.
Employees need to have better balance between the head and the heart.   It’s not just about your ability to be a potent pioneer and/or disruptor to get noticed.   You must be more mindful of how to use these unique qualities to lift and lead those around you  so they can better themselves and find ways to enable their full potential.    Stop trying to be the only star of the show and   show others how they too can be the main attraction.
The great difference between the recognized man and the respected man is the difference of the head and heart. The recognized man appeals to the head where things are easily forgotten. The respected man captivates the heart.  And the heart does not forget.
Recommended by Forbes