How to Rise Above the Competition

How to Rise Above the CompetitionHow to Rise Above the CompetitionTactics for executive job seekers on how to rise above the nations growing talent pool.Business sucks.Layoffs abound.Job stability is wavering.Will you panic or prosper?If you want to accomplish the latter, remember this three-word philosophy Anonymity is bankruptcy.Thats why were going to explore three tactics for elevating your visibilityExert your distinctiveness.Prepare to be vulnerable.Be smart, leid a smarty-pants.When executed consistently, these practices will capture the attention of potential employers, thus contributing to a greater awareness of the value you bring to the company.1. Exert your distinctiveness. As an executive, the net worth of your menschenfreundlich capital is a function of your expertise. So, the three questions you need to ask yourself areWhat are you known for knowing?Who is already attracted to you and sees you as a resource?What have you done, specifically in the last 24 hours to amp lify that expertise within your company?Once youve identified and evaluated your true expertise and inventoried your negotiable personal assets, the next challenge is to assert that distinctiveness in every possible personal-branding touchpoint questions you ask, answers you give, e-mails you write, meetings you attend and conversations you hold.The cool part is, asserting your distinctiveness elevates your visibility. Elevating your visibility attracts more responsibility. More responsibly increases the net worth of your human capital. And an increased net worth of human capital compels potential employers and solidifies your job security.Remember If your presence makes a difference, your absence will make a different. You want people to start asking where you are when youre not around. You want to become so invaluable that you become noticeable in your absence. Executives like that get hired and rarely get laid off. What are you known for? What are you known as? And what hard-to-c opy capabilities do you possess that position you distinctively, effectively and continuously?2. Prepare to be vulnerable.Vulnerability is attractive. Vulnerability is approachable. Vulnerability is strength. Even President Obama during his first month in office recently owned up to the media for his poor appointee choice.Ive got to own up to my mistake, Obama told NBC News. Im frustrated with myself, with our team. Im here on television saying I screwed up.Look, were all a bit nervous. And were all a bit vulnerable. The danger is when were not willing to disclose that vulnerability by practicing radical honesty. So here is my suggestion Dare to be dumb.In my workshops and seminars, I challenge people to increase their usage of the phrase I dont know. It cuts down on the pressure to know everything. Plus, pretending like you do know when you dont cracks your foundation, your integrity.Its a falsehood in your personality, and during interviews employers can smell it. Being vulnerab le, however, means being secure enough to be who you are, even if who you are is wrong. Whats more, in a sea of gargantuan professional egos, your vulnerability will stand out as a refreshing change. Are you willing to admit your ignorance? Are you someone others can feel dumb in front of?Remember When you maintain this attitude of approachability, your employees and your potential employers will respond to (and have more respect for) you. How are you branding your honesty? Are you willing to take the lead with your integrity and become someone others can be vulnerable in front of?3. Be smart, not a smarty-pants.Yes, human capital is a function of knowledge. At the same time, theres a fine line between being smart, and being a smarty-pants.Heres the difference Smart people attract others smarty-pants people alienate others. Smart people are trusted with greater responsibility smarty-pants people are avoided.Next time you attend a department meeting, consider this three-step, unforge ttable strategyBite your tongue. Dont say anything until the last five minutes of the meeting. That way you can collect you thoughts, clarify your position and speak confidently. By looking around, listening and learning first, your comment will contain its maximum amount of brilliance.Come out of nowhere. When the meeting leader says, Does anybody have any questions? or Any final thoughts before we finish? you raise your hand and say I had an observation All the people in the room will turn their heads, rotate their chairs and look in the direction of the one person who hasnt said anything all morning you.Articulate your idea. This is the best part. See, if you only say one thing, it becomes more profound because scarcity creates a perception of value. Whats more, the longer you wait to say something, the more everybody else will want to know what youre thinking. Ultimately, your calmness, patience and quietude will draw them in. In the words of our mistake-friendly president, P ower grows through prudent use.Remember Let go of the need to prove how smart you are by always adding some super-intelligent comment or asking some super-tricky question. You can still be smart and be perceived as being smart without looking like a know-it-all jerk. Are you sharing your knowledge or showcasing it? Are trying to elevate your visibility or be the center of attention?Look, times are tough tougher than theyve been in a long time. But youre tougher. And Im confident youre going to make it out aliveChallenge Pick a few of the strategies from this list that work best for you. Customize your visibility plan according to your unique skills and passions. And remember those three crucial words Anonymity is bankruptcy.Let me ask ya this How are you elevating your visibility?Let me suggest this For the list called, 30 Ways to become the Most Interesting Person You Know, send an e-mail to me, and Ill send you the complimentary list