This is the first post in a series focused on Leveraging Your Relationships for Career Success. Relationship leverage is one of the three foundational strategies I talk about in my upcoming eBook, "The Career Security Guarantee -- 3 Strategies That Guarantee You'll Never Have to Look for a Job Again," due out this Spring (more to come on that in later posts).
"We are not put on earth for ourselves, but are placed here for each other.
If you are there always for others, then in time of need, someone will be there for you."
- Jeff Warner
Carefully consider your answers to the following questions:
- Who do you routinely call upon for career advice and career counsel? What is the quality of that advice? Do you value those conversations and always "take away" something new and insightful?
- Who do you call upon or meet with who helps you stretch your mind and challenge your thinking?
- Who serves as your tried and true "sounding board" for new ideas, crazy ideas, and "to good to be true" ideas?
- Is there anyone who reaches out to you on a regular basis with outstanding career opportunities?
- Who helps you thoroughly and objectively evaluate important career decisions?
- Whom do you consider as a career mentor? What is the quality of your relationship with your mentor? How often do you speak?
- Who "has your back" at work? Who looks out for your interests and serves as your advocate and champion?
- Who would recommend you, without reservation, to a new client or to a new employer?
- Who, outside of your family, is your biggest fan? How many raving fans do you have?
- To whom do you turn to discuss extremely confidential career matters?
If your desire is to achieve sustainable, lasting and truly incredible career success, it is important you have a least one name that you can associate with each of the above questions. Those individuals, collectively, are key members of your Career Success Dream Team. DO YOU HAVE A DREAM TEAM?
Assembling and NURTURING a Dream Team will definitely springboard your career success -- you simply CANNOT do it alone! No one who achieves peak performance in their career does so alone...period.
Make this the year that you consciously and thoughtfully assemble your Career Success Dream Team. Consider ALL of the following roles as you identify members of this mission critical team:
- Mentor(s) - Individuals you look up to or aspire to be like. Incredible role models of success in your field of play. Could be a formal or informal relationship. Could be someone at your Company or outside of your Company.
- Mastermind Group Members - A Group assembled around a common theme -- to work jointly and collaboratively on similar projects, shared interests, or common causes.
- Career Coach - A fee-based support team member who can help you develop and implement effective career planning, career management and career development strategies and tactics.
- Professional Advisors - Third party advisors, some of whom may be friends, in fields that play into your career plans - lawyers, insurance professionals, tax professionals, accounting professionals, etc.
- Advisory Board - A diverse group of business professionals and executives with whom you meet quarterly or semi-annually, focusing on helping each other with career development ideas, strategies and tactics.
- Guides and Experts - Designated experts in areas in which you need assistance - social media experts, personal branding experts, website development experts, etc.
- Key Influencers - Individuals in influential positions who can help you make key connections in your field or industry area.
- Accountability Partners - Could be a coach, could be a friend, could be a colleague. Someone to help "hold your hand to the fire" to get things done.
Begin assembling your Dream Team this month. Begin by mapping out and identifying likely Dream Team members for each of the above categories. Maybe you have other categories of Team members you'd like to add to your Dream Team. Set a goal for when you'd like to have your Team assembled. Nurture your team, communicate with your team and show gratitude for team member contribution.
Watch the MAGIC happen -- the transformative power of a Dream Team on your Career Success can be INCREDIBLE!
Suggested NEXT ACTION Steps to Take Today:
- 10-Minute Quickie - Review the above Dream Team list, then take 10 quick minutes, and write ONE NAME down next to each of the roles.
- SHARE this article with a friend
-- sharing is a great way to give to others you care about. - TALK ABOUT this article today with a friend or work associate who might be interested in the ideas presented.
- "Evernote It" -- Save this article to your Evernote account for future reference or for re-reading at a later date. Click HERE to install Evernote Web Clipper, which lets you save interesting stuff you see on the web directly to your Evernote account.
The NEXT ARTICLE in this series of Leveraging Your Relationships for Career Success will be on the topic of "Giving First and Giving Often .... the Many Ways of Giving," a powerful relationship development practice.
Want to ensure you read ALL of the articles in this and future series? Then subscribe to my Weekly Career Success Newsletter (click to subscribe).
All of the articles in this series will be featured in my eBook, "The Career Security Guarantee -- 3 Strategies That Guarantee You'll Never Have to Look for a Job Again," due to be released this Spring. The eBook, will also be chock full of free useful tools and resources designed to help you implement the ideas, advice and tips offered in the book. Subscribe to my Weekly Career Success Newsletter on or before April 1st, 2012, to receive a FREE copy of my eBook when it is released (a $25 value).
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575
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