How To Stop Incorrect Perceptions That Impact Your Career
POSTED BY MANOJ VASUDEVAN · SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2020
Have you ever wondered why some competent executives progress slower in their careers despite their best intentions and effort? – While others seem to thrive despite bad behaviour?
Is your career progressing in the right direction with the right speed?
Here is the thing. Many competent and hard-working executives who harbour big dreams do not act strategically.
From your leadership readiness perspective, there are two things you need to take note of:
In any organisation, you are expected to demonstrate certain behaviours that make you be seen as a good fit for the current role or ready for the next-level role. However, the right behaviours are not enough. Perceptions about you affect your reality!
However, the right behaviours are not enough. Perceptions about you affect your reality!
You have to take ownership to shape perceptions about you because no one else might do this for you.
You have to take ownership to shape perceptions about you because no one else might do this for you
When you look at Behaviours vs Perceptions, four scenarios emerge, each of which, either accelerates or decelerates your career progression.
Scenario 1: Behaviour is great. Perception is equally great or better. All good!
Scenario 2: Behaviour is great. Perception is wrong. Influential people perceive and believe that you are not ready yet. (If you are here, you have a lot of work to do to ensure that your hard work each year is not wasted. Take a look at 23 key focus areas to demonstrate next level leadership readiness)
Scenario 3: Behaviour is terrible. But, perception is fantastic. (You might have seen people like this in your organisation. Perhaps they got lucky there, but they need to get their act together before their luck runs out!)
Scenario 4: Behaviour is terrible. Perception is equally bad. (This is all red. Those who are here, need to change behaviours or shape perceptions immediately, or wait for the next round of retrenchment.)
Why you need to act fast to rectify perception issues
Among the above scenarios, #2 and #4 are most common among executives who get stuck. If are you in one of these situations, you have to take urgent action to rectify perceptions without ending up like a sitting duck – someone who is easily dispensable. Focus on demonstrating the right behaviors, build relationships with others at your peer-level, supervisory-level, and above –to shape favorable perceptions. The worst is when you do the work and others take credit for your contributions. Equally bad is when you are busy doing the work you shouldn’t be doing in the first place.
Warning: Being a good team leader is NOT enough
Many executives tell me what a great leader they are because their direct reports love them. Unfortunately, pleasing your direct reports is easy, but not enough because they have no authority to help you in your career progression. You need to take massive action to take charge of your destiny. You need to urgently find out your blind spots, pickup strategies, and take deliberate steps to overcome roadblocks for your sustainability at your current level and to break through to your next level.
Call To Reflection & Action:
You might be sacrificing a lot of personal time, effort and energy at work every week. Then, why not go higher in the hierarchy and get better rewards, recognition and respect?! Get started with the following two steps.
- Do a Reality Check. Are you really ready for your current role? Are you likely to be considered for your boss’s role? Click Here to Discover Your Next Level Leadership Readiness Score for FREE
- You can’t move up, if you do not stand out. Master the 5 core skills in a systematic, structured, step-by-step process with LEAP – Next Level Leadership Readiness Program and breakthrough to the next level of your career, and life. (This is an Exclusive LIVE Coaching Program for Executives and Professionals)
