One of the most common questions that I get is, "How can I advance my career?" I'm going to try to answer that in a series of short posts to share what I have learned and observed after nearly 20 years in the software industry.
Part 2: Thought Leadership
In Part 1, I gave a framework for showing how taking on a project can demonstrate that you're ready for the next rung in your career ladder. In this second installment, I'll do my best to describe how to become known as a thought leader and someone who thinks strategically.
1/ Give Feedback Everywhere
I'll start first with a cynical saying that I came up with a while back: "If I want 10 ideas, I'll ask 2 people, but if I want 2 ideas, I'll ask 10 people." You get those emails asking "what does everyone think about this?" These are often not replied to, and one or two responses carry the day. Group-think fools us into believing that we don't need to respond when things are sent to a large group. Everyone else thinks that, but you're not like everyone else, you're a thought-leader. Take these seriously and reply to each one, and people will start coming to you because of your insight.
2/ Schedule Pen/Paper Time to Think 6 Months Out
Part of being a thought leader is that you actually need to take time to think, not just do, and that you have a futurist opinion of where the industry or organization is headed. Build an hour into your routine away from your work distractions so that you can write down observations and ideas that can have an impact. A good place to start is by asking yourself a series of how questions: "How does this impact our organization? How does this impact our customers? How should we react or plan for this?"
3/ Let Someone Know
Nobody will know you're a thought leader if you don't share your ideas. What the best do so well is market their ideas like they are a product. They let people in on what they're thinking about. While you might not have a public platform, look for opportunities to market yourself within the four walls of your work environment. Look for folks who can care, and let them know what's in it for them.
4/ Be Diligent
Becoming a thought leader isn't a one-time thing. It's a gradual process. It's an investment that you're making in yourself, and that investment grows over time. Nobody is going to all of a sudden realize that you're a thought leader and include you in conversations. Don't expect overnight success in this area. Keep executing, even if success takes longer than you expect.
5/ Give Others Praise
This seems contrarian to the rest of the list, but remember that our goal is to advance your career. Most companies have some sort of peer-to-peer appreciation system. Use it, at least on a quarterly basis. Let the individual know that you have nominated them for recognition. Do this regularly enough that you become known as someone who can recognize excellence in others.
6/ Remain Humble
This has been the hardest one for me. Once folks start seeking you out for your ideas, it becomes a powerful aphrodisiac and can quickly lead to arrogant thinking. Remember your desire is to advance your career, and nobody wants to work for a braggart. Remain humble and confident so that you don't lose sight of your goal.
In this installment, I've given you a framework to change your brand to one of a thought leader, taking it from a lofty philosophical goal to a concrete set of steps to help manage how others perceive you. Finally, you can now ace the interview question: "Would you describe yourself as a thought leader?"
Until next time. Geoff