Why hard work alone isn’t enough to get ahead
We’re constantly taught the recipe for getting ahead is to put our heads down and outwork everyone else. But that’s not quite right. We need to work harder than everyone else to get ahead. This article contains strong language that some readers may find offensive.
Getting to your desk before anyone else isn’t enough – you have to trumpet your accomplishments
While both men and women are susceptible to supervisors overlooking their hard work, Frohlinger says women are often more negatively impacted because it’s generally seen as more acceptable for men to talk about their accomplishments.
- To get ahead, you need to be doing more than just your job
- Find a way to draw attention to your endeavours without waiting for something as infrequent as a yearly review or performance self-assessment.
The value of politics
“If you want to have impact and influence, people need to trust and believe in you,” says Shannon, the same way they do a candidate they support.
- Proven ability alone isn’t enough to help you get ahead, you also need to be likeable and memorable
Putting your head down to work and grinding it out doesn’t mean your supervisors will notice and laud you
To climb the ladder, it’s necessary to be not just a great worker, but a bit of a politician
- You need to be liked by people at your level, by people above and below you, and by people below you