Do these 6 easy steps to be taken seriously: According to executive coach, “99% of people” don’t
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These 6 easy steps to be taken seriously. Credit: Klaus Vedfelt | Getty Images
These 6 easy steps to be taken seriously
These 6 easy steps to be taken seriously, My parents didn’t work for corporations. During family dinners, I failed to learn the unspoken rules of the workplace. However, I did have an insatiable interest regarding the real workings of influence. As a result, I studied human behavior, became a registered therapist and executive coach, and wrote my book, “Managing Up: How to Get What You Need From the People in Charge.”
After coaching thousands of top performers, I’ve learned that even after ten, fifteen, or even twenty years in your job, you may still feel as like you’re lacking the manual on how to be taken seriously. Here are the six things that 99% of people overlook if you want to be perceived as working at the next level, even before you have the title.
Whether you’re negotiating personal connections, family dynamics, or the workplace, these influencing principles are applicable. People’s perceptions and reactions to you in every situation are altered when you can effectively explain and present your ideas.
1. Package your ideas instead than merely presenting them.
You may have the most insightful ideas. However, your message will be unsuccessful if you do not present them in words that are most important to decision-makers.
Instead of talking about the work you’ve completed, concentrate on the results. For example, “The numbers show that if we go with option B, we’ll see a 15% return on investment” might replace “We analyzed the data and updated the slides.”
2. To sound smarter, say less.
You may believe you’re being thorough when you go into too much detail, but it seems like rambling to everyone else. It’s not always beneficial to have more information. Being succinct demonstrates mastery of the subject. You don’t really comprehend a subject if you can’t distill it into its most basic form.
It seems more convincing to state, “We have three key areas to cover: customer engagement, product positioning, and go-to-market strategy,” and to summarize each in a few succinct phrases rather than a fifteen-minute description that obscures your thesis.
3. Prior to the conference, establish a consensus
Gaining support is best done in the days preceding a crucial discussion, not during it. Astute experts get a one-on-one preview of their ideas beforehand. “I’m thinking about proposing [X] during Friday’s check-in,” they say in a private message. What worries do you have? Or: “I want to address your questions before I present this to the group.”
By the time the official meeting takes place, you’ve dispelled concerns, established credibility, and transformed possible opponents into supporters.
4. Prioritize decisiveness over correctness.
Credibility is destroyed more quickly by waffling than by being incorrect. I recently heard from an executive that she had let go of three very qualified and intelligent individuals. “It depends” or “There are many factors” were the responses I received each time I asked for their opinion, she added. “I didn’t want them to give me decisions; I wanted them to tell me what they thought we should do.”
Instead of hearing you hedge, leaders would want to receive a clear recommendation that they can discuss. Even if it’s not “right,” give them something to respond to.
5. Do not become indispensable.
Your manager becomes alarmed at the idea of you leaving or moving up when you are the only one capable of carrying out specific tasks. Being too good at your current role has unintentionally locked you into it.
Make yourself replaceable so that you can be promoted. Keep a record of your procedures. Develop a second-in-command. Demonstrate your ability to create mechanisms that will allow the team to function without you.
6. Avoid saying “no” too frequently.
You have every right to establish limits and safeguard your time. However, your coworkers will rapidly characterize you as “difficult” or “not a team player” if all they hear is, “No, that isn’t possible.”
Instead, concentrate on what you can do. For example: “I’m not able to meet at that time” is not a suitable response.
Try this instead: “I’m available at 2 or 4 p.m. What is effective for you? Avoid saying, “I can’t stay late to finish this.” Try saying something like, “I can give this another hour today and pick back up in the morning.” You set an example for how others should treat you both at work and outside of it. People will follow suit if you start speaking like someone who deserves to be taken seriously.
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