My thought leadership speaking tours to the Middle East and Europe were postponed after which postponed again in 2020. To persuade the organizers to carry their events online as a substitute of in person, I went on a shopping spree, buying all types of audio and video equipment. This was on the last day before Singapore’s first pandemic-related lockdown in April 2021.
It wasn’t just me. Everyone needed to adapt to the changing environment caused by COVID-19. Over the past two years, a lot of my students and training clients, from mid-career finance professionals to senior executives and countless others world wide, have needed to rethink their profession strategies.
With this in mind, listed here are seven actionable tips about how you should utilize the present situation to advance your profession.
1. Build social capital
“Your network is your wealth.”
I spotted the reality of this statement when a former colleague advisable me for a position as Managing Director at UBS. I might not have received this suggestion if I had not accrued social capital.
So what’s social capital? It’s the goodwill and relationships you’ve got built with people over time. It works like putting money in a bank: each time you help someone, you are putting some social capital away. Maybe you purchase them lunch, tip them off a couple of job opening, or give them a profession tip. It’s a very good idea to treat individuals with respect, even in the event that they’re in a lower-level position. Then the law of compound interest kicks in. Your social capital grows because the people you help today advance their careers and move as much as higher positions tomorrow.
Last 12 months, many firms restructured and resized. This 12 months, firms have embraced the brand new normal and are hiring again. When latest positions open up, you would like your contacts to consider you after they hear a couple of position you are a very good fit for. And you must do the identical for them.
Remember: today’s entry-level analyst might be tomorrow’s CEO. Investing time, money, thought and energy in people will reward you in the long term.
2. Be a web-based networker
Large events aren’t going to occur again any time soon, so there can be fewer opportunities to fulfill latest people in person. Knowing how you can network and construct relationships without meeting in person is a necessary skill.
Online networking is more vital than ever. But watch out. If you simply take into consideration making the most of your network, you’ll fail. Think long-term and think twice about the way you will help the opposite person. And you’ll want to create an interesting online profile that immediately shows your integrity and authenticity.
One executive I do know, Matt, is a creative guy with experience in retail and management consulting. He builds real connections through LinkedIn. When he saw that Diana, who was connected through his LinkedIn connection, was leaving her job at Apple in Hong Kong for a position in New York City, he reached out to her and congratulated her. Diana thanked him and mentioned that Apple was still on the lookout for her successor. Matt expressed his interest, snagged an interview, and got the job!
None of this might have happened if Matt hadn’t began with the words: “Hey Diana, I wish you all the best on your next adventure in New York!”
3. Build your external brand
Your employer’s impression of you is normally formed in the primary few months of your employment. Unless you do something dramatic, your colleagues could have a tough time changing their perception of you after that.
One of my LinkedIn followers, Anna, works at considered one of the large 4 accounting firms in London. This is what she told me:
“Six months ago, I wanted to refocus and pursue a new career path, but chasing opportunities and sending countless follow-up emails wasn’t helping me at all. I changed my strategy and followed your advice to build my external brand. I started a podcast and a blog, and suddenly opportunities that were previously out of reach were coming my way. Not only that, but I was offered a promotion opportunity because my team saw me in a different light.”
So in the event you feel stuck and wonder why latest opportunities aren’t coming your way, take into consideration constructing your external brand and using it to alter the impression your colleagues and superiors have of you.
4. Develop a side interest
With many firms, including UBS, allowing their employees to adopt flexible and hybrid work arrangements, now could be a very good time to pursue your hobbies.
Use the time you save commuting to and from the office to put in writing that book you’ve got at all times wanted to put in writing, learn an instrument, or develop your thought leadership on social media.
Side interests enable you develop into more creative, expand your network beyond your usual circle, and make you happier and more fulfilled. The happier you’re, the more productive you can be, and that advantages your employer, too.
5. Apply for internal transfer
The profession paths of bank CEOs are likely to have two things in common: most have stayed at the identical firm for a minimum of a decade, performing quite a lot of roles. For example, Piyush Gupta, the present CEO of DBS, spent 27 years at Citi, while Citi CEO Jane Fraser has worked at Citi for 17 years and at McKinsey for 10 years.
If you might have the chance to request an internal transfer, take it. Don’t worry if it’s only a lateral move. You won’t be joining a brand new company, so that you already know the culture and have your personal internal network to leverage. You can deal with learning latest products and acquiring latest skills while continuing to grow your network.
Many of the roles open today didn’t exist before, and corporations struggle to search out talent with direct experience to fill them. So the subsequent best candidate may be an internal one, and that might be you. In fact, any internal move can bring you one step closer to a senior management position.
6. Be a Zoom Master
Whether you are a senior executive giving a speech to a town hall meeting or a junior analyst conducting a job interview, you should have the opportunity to impress your audience on the opposite side of the video conference screen. Digital meetings are here to remain, so upgrade your components and presentation skills in the event you have not already.
No matter how good you’re at public speaking, in case your audience cannot hear or see you well, you are going to miss something. You must keep your presence top of mind on these digital calls, so ensure you are engaging and energetic. Create a video bio or resume and watch the video. What are you able to improve? How are you able to be more persuasive? Be honest with yourself and deal with the areas that need essentially the most improvement.
7. Take a while to do nothing
Working from home may prevent the commute, but you could not have enough free time for yourself. Don’t underestimate the advantages of putting your brain in neutral. A carefree mind-set might be an awesome catalyst for creativity. Take a while to reflect or go for a walk. You can brainstorm who you wish to meet next month, what latest skills you wish to learn, or simply enjoy nature and let your mind wander a little bit. You’ll be amazed on the fresh ideas you provide you with.
Of course, you mustn’t feel like you might have to implement all seven strategies. If you deal with only one or two and really commit to them in the approaching months, you may be on the precise path to profession success in 2022.
In the meantime, I want to placed on my blue jacket and switch on the lights in my home studio to prepare for a webinar. Good luck and I hope to see you soon on Zoom!
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Photo credit: ©Getty Images / caracterdesign
