Leadership Tip

How to be more successful at work using a short exercise

Not all of your work accomplishments will be recognised, and it can be awkward trying to draw attention to those that go unnoticed.

But there's a simple weekly exercise that can help you win more recognition in the workplace, even if you have an aversion to office politics. In anything but a start-up, you need to work hard for recognition, and you can achieve that by simply mentioning one good thing you’ve done recently any time you met someone more senior. Try this technique to make sure you always have a topic handy:

  1. Open a new spreadsheet. You'll be updating this weekly.
     
  2. Block time at 5pm every Friday afternoon - which is usually "dead time," before everyone wraps up before the weekend. Block a full half hour in your schedule so that you don’t rush yourself, but it usually takes five minutes.
     
  3. Write down your biggest work achievement of that week. As you’re doing it, think about which person might be interested in hearing each example.


You’ll find that the exercise serves a dual purpose as a resource for performance-review preparation. Instead of struggling to remember the highlights of the past 12 months, you’ll only needed to check your spreadsheet.


The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please join us on our next complimentary webinar or contact us.


For more tips...
on leadership and management good practice, subscribe to a Minute with Montgomery on 10TV.

Subscribe

Free weekly email on things you didn't know last week with links to articles on leadership excellence. To view previous editions click here.


Unlock your potential

Whether face to face, or over the telephone, we can develop your leadership skills, support you in making important decisions, and help you reach your potential.

Read More

Leadership Articles

10 actions for effective communication

High-quality communication is an essential element in business and organisational performance. Effective communication relies on engaging with people, having a commitment to building strong and productive relationships and realising that we communicate... read more

10 actions for advancing your career

Standing out at work isn’t about wearing a flashy hat - though, that could help. The more effective way to make an impact is by developing the skills that will get you noticed. Here are 10 strategies for advancing your career: Make skills... read more

10 actions for achieving best performance

Success does not begin with radically changing the way you work or acquiring new skills: the first step is to take what you already do to the highest level.  However trivial it may seem, if you can do a task more smartly than you did before, and... read more

Leadership Tips

How to keep employees honest

While it's impossible to predict every potential conflict of interest employees may face, you can significantly increase the likelihood that they will act in the company's best interest by providing clear, detailed guidelines. By setting expectations and... read more

How to regain your focus

Regaining focus can be tough, especially when distractions, fatigue, or lack of motivation get in the way. Whether you are struggling to concentrate at work, while studying, or on personal projects, sharpening your focus can make a huge difference in... read more

How to develop a strategy

Developing a strategy is a process that involves thoughtful planning, analysis, and a clear path forward. Whether you're crafting a strategy for a business, launching a new product, or working toward personal goals, the core idea is the same: how do... read more