Build your reputation like a high flyer
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Our research has shown that one of the keys to career success is to build a reputation for being particularly strong at something – whatever your talents are
. That way, you help people to find you when they have a job to fill that would be perfect for you. But lots of people are naturally modest. They don’t want to brag and ‘big themselves up’ to lots of people. How do high flyers make people aware of their strengths and achievements?
Believe it or not, most high flyers are nice, genuine people with a knack for building relationships and getting things done. This is part of the reason why people offer them career opportunities – senior managers want them in their team. High flyers don’t like bragging any more than you do. So how do they talk about the successes that build their reputation?
Luck, delight and gratitude
Luck
Over years of interviewing successful people, one phrase stands out. “I was lucky enough to…” People who are successful in their careers readily ascribe their success to luck – they commonly say, “I was just lucky – I was in the right place at the right time”. When you probe a bit more, you realise that underpinning the apparent luck was a lot of hard work. Spotting opportunities to make a difference, taking the time to help people and build relationships, doing excellent work and helping others to use their insights – all these things made them visible in the right way. But often when they talk about their achievements, their modesty shows by ascribing their success to luck. The story gets told, people take notice of the achievement, but aren’t put off by self-centred bragging.
Delight
You rarely get career success without delivering great results. A lot of modest people take pleasure in these results but don’t share them with others to build a reputation. The way that high flyers share their results is through enthusiasm and delight about making a difference. People ask, ‘How’s it going?” – and they respond with a big smile, saying they are on a real high because they’ve just received great results – “Waste is down by 26%!” – or had a compliment from a Director or a great email from a customer or client. People enjoy celebrating successes with you. Most meetings at work are all about problems, difficulties or what is left to do. Share successes with delight. You can also promote other people’s reputation by sharing their good news too!
Gratitude
Another pattern we see in high flyers is that they often attribute their success in part to other people’s help. “My Director was awesome – she took a big risk in trusting me to lead such an important project” or “The company invested in me and gave me great opportunities through the Senior Talent scheme – it really launched my career.” Showing appreciation and loyalty to the people who helped you shows that you have a balanced view of your success. People will know that if they give you opportunities, they can rely on you to give credit it where it is due – and that you will build not only your own reputation but also that of the department and the organisation.
The Takeaway
First, do the groundwork of spotting opportunities and going the extra mile to solve business problems. Do an outstanding job. Then share your delight at good results (your own and others), express your gratitude for others’ help, and comment on how lucky you feel. You’ll be seen as someone people want in their team. Someone who not only achieves good results, but is a pleasure to work with – energetic, positive, and humble.
Believe it or not, most high flyers are nice, genuine people with a knack for building relationships and getting things done. This is part of the reason why people offer them career opportunities – senior managers want them in their team. High flyers don’t like bragging any more than you do. So how do they talk about the successes that build their reputation?
Luck, delight and gratitude
Luck
Over years of interviewing successful people, one phrase stands out. “I was lucky enough to…” People who are successful in their careers readily ascribe their success to luck – they commonly say, “I was just lucky – I was in the right place at the right time”. When you probe a bit more, you realise that underpinning the apparent luck was a lot of hard work. Spotting opportunities to make a difference, taking the time to help people and build relationships, doing excellent work and helping others to use their insights – all these things made them visible in the right way. But often when they talk about their achievements, their modesty shows by ascribing their success to luck. The story gets told, people take notice of the achievement, but aren’t put off by self-centred bragging.
Delight
You rarely get career success without delivering great results. A lot of modest people take pleasure in these results but don’t share them with others to build a reputation. The way that high flyers share their results is through enthusiasm and delight about making a difference. People ask, ‘How’s it going?” – and they respond with a big smile, saying they are on a real high because they’ve just received great results – “Waste is down by 26%!” – or had a compliment from a Director or a great email from a customer or client. People enjoy celebrating successes with you. Most meetings at work are all about problems, difficulties or what is left to do. Share successes with delight. You can also promote other people’s reputation by sharing their good news too!
Gratitude
Another pattern we see in high flyers is that they often attribute their success in part to other people’s help. “My Director was awesome – she took a big risk in trusting me to lead such an important project” or “The company invested in me and gave me great opportunities through the Senior Talent scheme – it really launched my career.” Showing appreciation and loyalty to the people who helped you shows that you have a balanced view of your success. People will know that if they give you opportunities, they can rely on you to give credit it where it is due – and that you will build not only your own reputation but also that of the department and the organisation.
The Takeaway
First, do the groundwork of spotting opportunities and going the extra mile to solve business problems. Do an outstanding job. Then share your delight at good results (your own and others), express your gratitude for others’ help, and comment on how lucky you feel. You’ll be seen as someone people want in their team. Someone who not only achieves good results, but is a pleasure to work with – energetic, positive, and humble.