David Bowman

A friend phoned me the other day to say he’d been the butt of some unkind office jokes and remarks about his friendship with his female boss.  He said he genuinely likes her and their families occasionally socialize together.  He also feels his boss can help advance his career, so he’s encouraged the relationship.  However, his co-workers seem to feel he’s playing politics.  He said he’d like to know how to maintain his present relationship without appearing too political.

Keeping It Strictly Business
My advice was to continue what he’s been doing, but do it more quietly.  When interacting with the boss - and especially when socializing - do it as privately as possible.  Don’t joke with her in front of co-workers, try not to have lengthy meetings with her during regular business hours and don’t ever let co-workers know you’re families socialize together.  In other words, try to keep the relationship “strictly business” in front of others in the office.

This is the same advice I would give any work relationship that has moved outside the workplace.  Whether you are a staff member or a boss, it’s important to keep every business relationship “strictly business” in front of others.

Career-Advancing Techniques
Then I suggested that instead of focusing on the friendship with his boss as something that could help him advance his career, he consider some alternate career advancing techniques that would be invisible to co-workers, but that both his boss and top management would see and appreciate.
1)  Volunteer.  At night or early in the morning - when only you and your supervisor are in the office - ask if there’s anything you can do to help her.  Also ask, “How can I make a larger contribution?”  It’s contributions that make successful careers, at least in the long run.   Never be just a “warm body.”  It’s the pro-active people who are promoted, and then promoted again.

2)  Figure out what’s needed.  Use some intuition, as well as objectivity.  Look at the organization and decide whether most promotions are based on creativity or detail ability, sales or production/operations experience, computer or interpersonal skills.  Work on the needed skills or behavior and stay aware of your progress, as well as any change that’s needed in the organization.

3)  Show initiative.  Make suggestions or develop new ideas.  Of course, these should be well thought-out and grounded in reality, not just “pie-in-the-sky.”  Then, offer to take charge of the new suggestion or idea to see if you can make it work.  Initiative like this says you deserve a promotion.

4)  Create visible exposure for yourself.  Become known as an expert in a particular job, function, or industry by writing articles and/or speaking about it at local events or meetings.  Obviously, this must be a subject about which you know a great deal, so make the world aware of your knowledge!  Then, let the boss - and the boss’ boss - know of your articles and/or speaking engagements.  Also, consider writing an article for the organization or related industry association newsletter.  It’s a fact that Board Members and top management always read the company newsletter with interest - to see if it’s worth the investment!

5)  Get more schooling.  Stay at the cutting-edge of what you do.  Whether you’re in accounting, administration, information systems, legal, operations/production, marketing/sales, or some other function - and this includes the CEO - you must be the best you can be.  This means going back for re-training frequently.  Then, let the “powers that be” know how this schooling can help the organization.  If you make this case effectively, the organization may even pay for the schooling!

6)  Remember your accomplishments - because nobody else will.  These are particularly important as they affect the bottom line.  Have you increased revenues, decreased costs, created a new system that reduced staff and maintained productivity, played a key role in a project that accomplished something?  At the right time, remind the boss of your successes.

Don’t Play Politics
Now, all this may sound like “playing politics - without integrity.”  However, integrity is satisfied as long as you can say, “NO!” to the following question:  “Will I regret this action (whatever action you decide to take to further your career) if it doesn’t pay off?”

When using this benchmark, your career advancement motives will be both credible and honorable, regardless of what co-workers say or think.  Is this playing politics?  I don’t think so.  It’s just good business.

Above all, remember that your career is a business (and you’re its CEO) so manage it like one!  These career advancing methods are used by successful managers, executives and entrepreneurs all over the world.  They’re tried and true self-marketing techniques and they will work with your boss and your boss’s boss.  Just use them quietly.

Top-selling author, consultant, Fortune 500 executive, entrepreneur, educator, actor/lecturer – David Bowman – has helped many thousands find more productive, fulfilling and higher paying careers. And, he’s improved individual and team productivity at corporations throughout the world. He is known as America’s Human Capital Consultant.

David is the immediate past president of the International Association of Career Consulting Firms, as well as Founder and Chairman of TTG Consultants, a Los Angeles based, international Human Capital consulting firm with over 200 partner offices worldwide.

He specializes in career and corporate change/transition, and his “career advice” is often featured on many national TV and radio news/talk shows. He is the author of several books and audio series (on audible.com, amazon.com and iTunes), and frequently writes about career and workplace issues in newspapers and other periodicals. His university lectures and public seminars have re-focused careers throughout America.

David’s corporate management career has included: The Mead Corporation where he was honored as Marketing Man of the Year, Continental Can Company where he directed sales and joint ventures in over 50 countries, USM Corporation and several entrepreneurial ventures.

His education includes Dartmouth College and Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

His credos are…

“You do best what you best like to do – so DO IT!”

– and –

“Your career is a business, so manage it like one!”