Personal Branding - Danger, Danger - Flying Below the Radar Can Hurt You

You work hard and accomplish a lot for your organization. Everybody already knows your value to the company, right? So why aren't you getting those promotions and plum projects?

I've worked with many corporate women in the last 20 years. More often than not, their greatest stumbling block to getting rewarded and recognized has been their invisibility to decision makers. Once they started showing up on the decision maker's radar screen, these women began to make steady advances in their careers.

If you aren't on their radar screen, decision makers will look elsewhere to people they remember when considering promotions and who to assign to plum projects.

When you work hard, get results, and nobody knows about it, you're flying below the radar of the decision makers. Remember the saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease?" It's just as true for a corporate employee. When you don't "squeak," you can't be heard. Basically, you're unseen, unknown, under promoted.

There are two main reasons women resist taking action to get on the radar of decision makers. Fear of being noticed and not knowing how to show up on the right radar.

Fear of being noticed - Does being visible sound exciting or does it make you slightly nauseated?

One of my very successful friends hit the nail on the head when she told me that being visible used to scare her to death. She was afraid that if she became visible, she would be open to criticism and that can be very scary. If this is an issue for you, consider how much the rewards of being on your boss's radar outnumber the scary risks - some of which are phantoms invented by your own imagination.

Don't take criticism personally. The majority of criticism handed out in the corporate world isn't intended to crush you. It might be no more than a different point of view. Take the high road. Ask yourself if there is value in the criticism. If yes, then decide what you can learn from it. If not, release the criticism like a little annoying bug.

Don't let fear disable you. You don't have to do it alone. Enlist the help of people you trust and respect - your boss, your peers, a mentor, a professional coach.

Not knowing how to show up on the right radar-Try these three surefire steps to increase your presence on the radar of decision makers:

Identify the key decision makers inside and outside your department and learn what they value.Make sure decision makers know you exist by getting involved in initiatives they think are important.Understand how people within your company perceive you. Know who they think you are. This is your current personal brand.

Remember, if you want the rewards and recognition you deserve, your name must be the first one that pops up when a plum project begins to form or a promotion becomes available. You increase your chances of this happening when decision makers see you as a solid blip on their radar screen.

Stop languishing in obscurity. Enjoy your journey to greater career success by taking action today.

Linda Fossum coaches corporate women on how to move from being overworked and underappreciated to recognized and rewarded. Get started today. Request the free "Danger, Danger - Flying Below the Radar Can Hurt You" worksheet at http://rechargeyourcareer.com/ to learn more about these three surefire steps. Sign up for one of our free Lunch and Learn webinars at http://rechargeyourcareer.com/workshops to find out more about increasing your visibility to the right people within your organization.

Original article

Are You an Accidental Leader? Sometimes They Are the Best Kind

Perhaps you've seen the movie which is set off into a future dystopia where a former mailman ends up the leader of a rebel force which overthrows the two-bit ruthless dictator of the local authority. In many regards you could call him the accidental leader, someone who rises up from the people, and is loved and respected by those who choose to follow. Some might say this is a natural leader coming into fruition due to the scenario and present events he happens to find himself thrust into. Now then, I would like to talk to you for a moment about how accidental leadership happens.

Now then, perhaps you are reading this article because you are an accidental Leader, or you are the sidekick, wing man, and/or assistant of someone who has just become one of those types of leaders. That is to say; he has been chosen by his peers, and has also accepted the responsibility. Perhaps, because there is a job to be done - he feels confident in doing it, and has the wisdom and belief of those around him to make it happen. Not everyone has the strength of character inside to do such a thing, and even those that do may not come forward due to the inherent social risks.

Nevertheless, sometimes there comes a point when it is no longer acceptable to sit on the sidelines, perhaps the individual has strong moral character, and can no longer allow whatever is taking place to go on, from their point of view of course. Therefore, they take action, and the rest is history as those who later try to piece together what happened and how this accidental leader rose to power. Often the accidental leader didn't rise as much as they were thrust into that leadership role.

Have you ever noticed that folks in this position often fit into that leadership role as if it was a glove being put on? Not like the O.J. Simpson glove, rather one that fits quite well? In the famous philosophical work "The Prince" Machiavellian describes such transformation, and explains that folks who are born into power, or work within the system to later seize power must often lead by fear, whereas a prince who comes from the people can lead with love, respect, and admiration of the followers without the use of fear.

If you are an Accidental Leader you need to understand these principles if you are to fit into this new role of yours. Often, those that enter the leadership arena and find themselves in this situation by happenstance eventually turn out to be the very best leaders of all. There's something to be said from understanding the people, and being one with them that makes all the difference.

In fact, you might even note that many of our leaders today worked very hard to position themselves as just the "common Joe on the street" and yet, still possess the leadership talent, abilities, and moral strength of character to lead. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative eBook on Change Management Leadership. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

Original article

Leadership Coaching: The Power To Dream Big

Leadership Has A Vision

Dream big. What your mind can conceive, you can turn into reality. Great achievements come from fervid and zealous dreams. At times you might think your dreams are outrageous, and some people might scoff, but know that only you are the limit to what you can achieve. It starts with a dream. Leadership is a position of power and influence, but not in the sense to subjugate or coerce others. Power in leadership comes from within. It comes from courage and it moves people to act from their hearts and motivation. Influence in leadership is exerted by making people want to follow, not compelling them to follow.

As a leader and as a force that influences people, you have the privilege to dream big. You can thus achieve big as a result. And in your success, you include your followers. You dream in behalf of your team as a leader. Yes, leadership is expected to be stern and resolute, and being wishy washy may seem inappropriate. But leadership is about dreaming, otherwise known in technical terms as "having a vision". Leadership needs to have a vision, something to aim for, something to work for and something to achieve. Having a cause to fight for. Without a purpose, without a reason for being, leadership is futile.

How To Inspire Elegant Courage

Leadership inspires and instills courage in its people. A leader, to be effective, must have elegant courage. What is elegant courage? It is clarity of one's core values and being resolute to adhere to these core values both in good and bad times. How do you inspire leadership courage?

Claim the power to dream big. You may have fears and inhibitions, reluctant about envisioning a magnificent achievement. Nonetheless, don't let the word "impossible" block your vision. If you settle for mediocre dreams, then all you get are mediocre achievements. Dream freely and don't let your fears limit you. Let positivity prevail and think "if the problem does not exist, what more can I achieve"?
Include your people in your dreams. A leader does not do it alone. His force boosts the force of his people, and his people boost his power. Be a leader worthy of the respect and support of your followers. Take your people with you in your dream and realize that they will walk with you all the way. Conceive a supportive force in your mind and it will manifest in your leadership.
Be the catalyst of growth and achievement. It all begins with you as a leader because you have been bestowed with the power to make a difference. Being the best you can be in your leadership needs you to have elegant courage. Nurture elegant courage in you and you can create astounding achievements.

By the way, do you want to learn more about leadership in your company? If so, download your FREE ebook here: Guide to Elegant Courage Leadership

Jodi and Mike specialize in executive coaching with individuals and teams. http://lighthouse-leadership.com/

Original article