7 Steps to Accelerate Your Career

Here is a list of steps created by Leslie G. Ungar that should help lead you into leadership!

1. Identify the connection between communication and leadership skills.

The earlier a Gen-X makes the connection between these two skill sets, the more velocity their success will have. In the 60's, CEO's did not have to have well tuned communication skills. Today, you can't be a leader if you can't communicate effectively. Period.

2. Value the axiom: visibility = viability

The earlier you embrace the value of visibility the faster your career accelerates. This requires a different mindset: to be verbally visible. Children are taught to be seen and not heard. A concept that will not work in the executive world. Use your communication skills to make your value visible. The more visible you are, the more viable you are to your organization.

3. Seize speaking opportunities.

These opportunities will be both internal and external. Once you have the mindset to speak, you will see opportunities everywhere. The opportunity may be informal. Do people listen when you talk at the conference table? Do you seek the spotlight? The opportunities may be external. When you are in the spotlight do you give a powerful presentation? Are your non-verbal skills working for or against you? Do you use the scalpel of clarity?

4. Use communication to advance professional relationships.

We have more ways to communicate than ever before in history. Use communication to enhance relationships that are under you on the organizational chart, peer relationships, and relationships above you. Even in this technological world, relationships will drive your success. Use verbal and technological communication to nurture these relationships.

5. Protect Your Value

Everyone has a value they bring to their job and their company. One of your challenges is to protect that value. You want to comment at a meeting, ask yourself, does this protect my value? Gary is slow to answer requests and emails. Co-workers and senior staff end up talking about his lack of response rather than talking about his expertise or performance. Respond whether or not you have the answer, to protect your value.

6. Keep Moving Forward

Gen-x'ers, like many that came before them, get caught in the office web. They are tempted to get involved in office or industry politics. They need to use their communication skills to always move forward through challenges and have the discipline to not get mired in making a stand on a mountain that doesn't really exist. Ask yourself daily, how can I use communication to move forward?

7. Understand and value the role of presence

Established CEO's struggle with presence. If you learn early the value of establishing presence, you will rise above your peers. And you will be more ready for your next position than those that don't understand that presence is a 24/7 trait. Establishing presence is a process. The earlier you get started the earlier you will own a conversation and own a room.