Marketing on Sofa

Have you ever thought that you are not good at your job? Were you not sure that the article you have prepared is good enough? That you succeeded because you were at the right place at the right time? That your job promotion is a result of luck? Or maybe you are afraid of being judged incompetent or inferior by some colleagues? I sense you as I was there too. Some people call the imposter syndrome, but the article is not about it. 

Until recently, my head was occupied with all kinds of “improvement” and “becoming better” thoughts. As a result, I was trying to get better in each PR field I could think of. I attended numerous courses on LinkedIn and Coursera, listened to experts on TedEX, and bought piles of books to thoroughly polish my skills. I decided to get PR certified with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations not only because I love PR and my profession but because I wanted official proof of my qualifications. I worked and studied a lot to get up the career ladder. I was taught the magical equation in my childhood: hard work + endless studies = career success. 

It took me quite some time to understand that the formula has missing “X” or “Y”. I remember being interviewed for a junior-level communication position at one government agency. The interview went incredibly well; both interviewers and I knew this was a perfect match. At the end of the dialogue, I was immediately offered a job for a higher position. My excitement was limitless! However, one question damped me during the discussion: what is the most essential quality to succeed in the career? I replied: mastery, knowledge, experience, hard work and dedication. My interlocutors told me that was the only wrong answer I gave. That was ten years ago. Now, I would have replied differently. Building communication with others can significantly help advance your career, as none can take your background away. 

Hard work is something every employer requests by default. There should be more than that. No matter what a great professional you are, you will be unnoticed until you talk about it. Recently, I read an article in the Harvard Business Review, one of my favourite publications, that people who speak up during meetings are believed to be more competent than others. Even if you say something not very smart or repeat someone’s words, it is still better career-wise than being silent. Revealing, isn’t it? 

The equation cannot be solved without another missing variable. I call it impartiality. People can endlessly say how unbiased they are, but the reality is different. When your colleague has a headache, you offer a painkiller. The latter sticks in your head much more than an ability to perform your tasks outstandingly or deliver outstanding results. This is how psychology works. In the end, life is about human relationships, and a career is a big part of it.