When first entering the workforce, some common advice you’ll hear is, “Work twice as hard as everyone else.” Many of us have been told that to excel in any role, we need to get things done efficiently and put our best foot forward. In most cases, this is true — from the onset of your career, establishing yourself as a productive and dependable person will help you build aBut what fewer people will tell you is this: It takes more than hard work to grow in your role and build credibility.
When you’re the new kid at work , it’s not as easy to get invited to the party. That’s why you need to put in an effort from the start.There are many benefits to being visible at work. First, visibility will allow you to have more influence, which is a must-have for any aspiring leader. Let’s be clear: You don’t have to be a high-power, high-level leader to build leverage. But your visibility is built upon your ability to shape the feelings, beliefs, and actions of others.
Third, with visibility, you can more easily enter conversations that include people new to you. In other words, it’s a great way to expand your network. The same influencers who value your contributions can introduce you to other decision makers in other departments, cross-functional teams, or even to those in their external networks who may prove to be valuable contacts in the future.
. You’re more likely to have the influence to set the agenda of your work, including your focus areas, priorities, goals, and perhaps eventually, the larger strategy that defines the work for the entire organization.You can’t be visible through solely your own efforts. To raise your profile, you need an advocate, whether that’s your manager, a— basically, someone to invite you to the theoretical party, or a workplace “influencer.