When I work with executives on their leadership brand, they are at a point in their lives when they want to try something new, go for something bigger, or be recognised for something more. As soon as we put a big goal out there – we say the words out loud, we tell someone, or we write it down – we are immediately met with scary thoughts.
When everyone in the organisation has a personalised and thoughtfully-crafted go-to statement that they feel authentically speaks to what’s most important about their work, they are much more likely to use it to help build the business.
In a workshop with new leaders in transport and logistics across ANZ, we reflected on individual and collective strengths… and there were many. Yet, they also reported a reluctance to self-promote!
You may worry that asking others for advice or information in professional contexts reveals your ignorance, fearing that others will be put off because you need help. However, if you master the art of asking with intention, it does quite the opposite.
While you cannot control the biases of other people, you can do some things to influence the way they see you. If you know you have the permission and ability to add more value, consider some of these suggestions.