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How to Rise Above the Nation’s Growing Talent Pool |
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Will you panic or prosper?
If you want to accomplish the latter and end your unemployment, remember this three-word philosophy:Anonymity is bankruptcy.
That’s why we’re going to explore three tactics for elevating your visibility:
When executed consistently, these practices will capture the attention of potential employers, thus contributing to a greater awareness of the value you bring to the company.
1. Exert your distinctiveness.
The net worth of your human capital is a function of your expertise. So, the three questions you need to ask yourself are:
Once you’ve identified and evaluated your true expertise and inventoried your negotiable personal assets, the next challenge is to assert that distinctiveness in every possible personal-branding touchpoint: questions you ask, answers you give, e-mails you write, meetings you attend and conversations you hold.
The cool part is, asserting your distinctiveness elevates your visibility. Elevating your visibility attracts more responsibility. More responsibly increases the net worth of your human capital. And an increased net worth of human capital compels potential employers and solidifies your job security.
Remember: If your presence makes a difference, your absence will make a different. You want people to start asking where you are when you’re not around. You want to become so invaluable that you become noticeable in your absence. Executives like that get hired and rarely get laid off. What are you known for? What are you known as? And what hard-to-copy capabilities do you possess that position you distinctively, effectively and continuously?
2. Prepare to be vulnerable.
Vulnerability is attractive. Vulnerability is approachable. Vulnerability is strength. Even President Obama – during his first month in office – recently owned up to the media for his poor appointee choice.
“I’ve got to own up to my mistake,” Obama told NBC News. "I'm frustrated with myself, with our team. ... I'm here on television saying I screwed up.”
Look, we’re all a bit nervous. And we’re all a bit vulnerable. The danger is when we’re not willing to disclose that vulnerability by practicing radical honesty.
So here is my suggestion: Dare to be dumb.
In my workshops and seminars, I challenge people to increase their usage of the phrase“I don’t know.” It cuts down on the pressure to know everything. Plus, pretending like you do know when you don’t cracks your foundation, your integrity.
It’s a falsehood in your personality, and during interviews employers can smell it. Being vulnerable, however, means being secure enough to be who you are, even if who you are is wrong. What’s more, in a sea of gargantuan professional egos, your vulnerability will stand out as a refreshing change. Are you willing to admit your ignorance? Are you someone others can feel dumb in front of?
Remember: When you maintain this attitude of approachability, your employees and your potential employers will respond to (and have more respect for) you. How are you branding your honesty? Are you willing to take the lead with your integrity and become someone others can be vulnerable in front of?
3. Be smart, not a smarty-pants.
Yes, human capital is a function of knowledge. At the same time, there’s a fine line between being smart, and being a smarty-pants.
Here’s the difference: Smart people attract others; smarty-pants people alienate others. Smart people are trusted with greater responsibility; smarty-pants people are avoided.
Next time you attend a department meeting, consider this three-step, unforgettable strategy:
Remember: Let go of the need to prove how smart you are by always adding some super-intelligent comment or asking some super-tricky question. You can still be smart – and be perceived as being smart – without looking like a know-it-all jerk. Are you sharing your knowledge or showcasing it? Are trying to elevate your visibility or be the center of attention?
Look, times are tough – tougher than they’ve been in a long time. But you’re tougher. And I’m confident you’re going to make it out alive!
Challenge: Pick a few of the strategies from this list that work best for you. Customize your visibility plan according to your unique skills and passions. And remember those three crucial words … Anonymity is bankruptcy.
Let me ask ya this: How are you elevating your visibility?
Scott Ginsberg, a k a, “The Nametag Guy” is the author of eight books and an international professional speaker. He’s been recognized by The Wall Street Journal and 20/20 as “The Authority on Approachability.” And, as the producer of NametagTV, he teaches professionals how to GET noticed, GET remembered and GET business. To rent his brain, email
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Business sucks. Layoffs abound. Unemployment is skyrocketing. If you haven't been impacted already, guess what, job stability is wavering.
