Enhance your stature

Skills, competencies and titles can help you attract a high level of professional advancement or success, but it takes more to be taken more seriously. Here are some tips for developing a stronger stature.

Earn real respect: What will your colleagues say about you when you are not there? What would they say you are admired and respected for? Do the right people trust you? Be smart about how you implement your responsibilities. Be able to work effectively with a group of people. Maintain a balance between empathy and making tough decisions.

Be a strong professional: Can people count on you? Are they confident you know what you are doing? What would they say you are passionate about? Hone expertise. Deliver value. Have mentors and experienced people that you can learn a tremendous amount from. Be more than technically smart; show a high sense of responsibility and accountability.

Show a desire to learn: What would you say is one thing you’ve learnt in the last month in your role? When you reflect on where you are; are you developing as you should? Be able to demonstrate that you are learning and for yourself, not only via the training HR rolls out. Craft your own development plan and systematically build the capability you need.

Ensure your work is impactful: Can people see the measure of your work? When you are involved in something, does it make people better, more confident and capable? Help others achieve a little bit more than they could on their own.

Have decent behaviour: Demonstrate great habits and encourage that in others. Have a positive disposition. Don’t deliberately hide your mistakes or make light of them. Own up to them as soon as they occur and ensure you don’t make those mistakes again.

Now take action: What can you do to be more impactful as a person?