Naughty or Nice -- Marketing Yourself

December 2007

It's holiday time and holiday songs are singing on TV, in the malls and on our radios. You may remember this one...

He's making a list, he's checking it twice,
he's gonna find out who's been naughty or nice!
Santa Claus is coming to town!
He sees you when he's sleeping,
he knows when you're awake,
he knows when you've been good or bad,
so be good for goodness sakes!

Do you ever feel like your boss is making a list and checking it twice at review time? How well have you marketed yourself throughout the year? Does your boss know if you've been naughty or nice or are you leaving it up to him or her to make some assumptions?

Effective career planning and creating a productive performance review process are important to developing a healthy, fit and full of energy career. Marketing yourself - ensuring that others know what you have done, that you're awake, and that you're doing good, productive things for the organization - is a key step in the process. And marketing yourself should not simply be limited to performance review time (see the article: What's Your Costume? Don't Be a Ghost!).

Here are five steps you can take to market yourself throughout the year and to ensure you're on the "Nice" list at performance review time:

1. Periodically share achievements with your boss, team and/or colleagues. For example, share achievements at a biweekly staff meeting or send a monthly email progress and accomplishments report to your boss.

2. Avoid saying "it was nothing" or "it was no problem" as it minimizes the work you accomplished. If "it was nothing" then perhaps your time is worth nothing, or the accomplishment is worth nothing or you contributed nothing. You know it was SOMETHING or you wouldn't have done it. So say "thank you" or "it was a great accomplishment to get that completed" or "it took more time than I thought".

3. Ask for feedback either formally through a 360-degree instrument or informally in conversation or via email. Showing that you're interested in improving and that you value others' opinions can go a long way in the marketability category.

4. Show up on time and be prepared. Whether it is for a weekly meeting or a lunch date, showing up on time and being prepared shows respect for others and adds value as time is not wasted.

5. Have a voice. This goes hand in hand with being prepared. By being prepared, you can share your insights, offer solutions and contribute to the discussion. Having a voice ensures you are recognized.

Take charge marketing yourself! Eliminate assumptions from the performance review and career planning process and set yourself on the path to a healthy, fit and full of energy career. Sounds like a great New Year's resolution to make!

825 Basics Workshops can move you towards preparedness. Find you what you like and what you are good at through the CareerPE™ Workshops. Enhance your networking skills in Counterclockwise Networking: Networking with Direction.