The right people will guide you and stretch your thinking.
If you rarely think about how important your network is, then take the time to write down the names of the people in your life who have played a part in progressing your career so far.
Chances are you’ll be able to name a couple of handfuls of friends and acquaintances who’ve lent a helping hand or a kind ear. But what about the ones who have really been instrumental; the people you really need in your network are not the ones that might immediately jump into your mind.
“These days, job vacancies are filled before they’re advertised and previously unthought-of collaborations appear out of nowhere to create new and competitive markets,” Garner said.
“You need the one that believes in you and lifts you up if you are having doubts, are overwhelmed with your workload, or if your energy gets low. They keep you going with their positive reinforcements and support,” Woods said.
“They get the word out to all of your would-be clients, telling at least ten other people that you are the best at what you do. Word-of-mouth referrals, whether in person, or online, are better than any amount of paid advertising and your cheerleaders will tell everyone that will listen.”
Here are the four types of people you need in your quest for career success.
Pit Crew
Garner: Having the right crew to help you overcome these difficulties, keeping you mentally tough and balanced, is crucial. Like a Formula One pit stop, your pit crew can make or break a race. They add stamina to run the marathon of your dreams; to navigate complexities and recover from setbacks. They help you learn from mistakes and keep pushing you on anyway.
Woods: You need someone to listen to your fears that will help you to see the best of the situation, someone that will listen patiently as you lick your wounds and rebuild. With a Pit crew, rejuvenating happens quickly. They’ll put a smile on your face, help you to focus on your strengths and help you shrug off disappointments.
Teachers
Garner: Seek out teachers who’ll continue to help develop your mastery and knowledge, pushing you to know more. They may have already achieved what you want to achieve and will willingly open doors, make introductions and pave the way to your success.The right teachers teach you mastery, guide and stretch your thinking and encourage you to push, because they know that this constant curiosity creates real opportunity for growth, achievement and success.
Woods: I have the utmost respect for each of my mentors that I have met along the way. Their time and input has been invaluable to me. Mentors have let me know that my ideas were valid and important enough for them to stop and take notice. It filled me with confidence that my wacky ideas could help others. They usually had been down some of the same roads and they could steer me away from unnecessary tasks, or give me guidance that would save me months of time in a learning curve.
Promoters
Garner: Promoters pull you toward your future dreams, make noise about potential possibilities, spend time with you to explore how you’re going to achieve your goals and inspire you to become more. They put fire in your belly and belief in your mind. According to research from the Centre For Talent Innovation, people with promoters (aka sponsors) are 23 per cent more likely to move up in their career than those without sponsors.
Woods:They believe in you and lift you up if you are having doubts, are overwhelmed with your workload, or if your energy gets low. They keep you going with their positive reinforcements and support. They get the word out about your business and, these days, helping others is the driving force behind a huge percentage of social media posts. Your promoters truly want nothing but the best for you and their genuine support can help you on so many levels.
Butt Kickers
Garner:Love them or hate them, we all need butt-kickers. Butt-kickers are the masters of delivery. They listen to your dreams and accelerate your goals, pushing you to do more and holding you accountable for all your actions — and then some.
Choose your tribe carefully. Take control because strategically aligning yourself with the right people will fast track your goals and ambitions and influence the person you eventually become.