Are you Positioning Yourself in the Right Way?

Last week, I gave a two-hour workshop on how to position yourself.  It was part of a series of workshops on finding your voice, fearlessly.  

Positioning yourself is about using your words, your presence, your actions intentionally to achieve what you want.  

So how do you do it. 

Well, I give you an example.  

The front image was a photo of my dog, Fiver, taken whilst I’d just sat down to watch tv.  He has positioned himself right in front of me, I can’t avoid seeing him.  And to make extra sure I know he is there, he has put a paw on my foot.  What is his message?  It’s, ‘Feed me!’  I am in no doubt as to what he wants.  He is well positioned!

For humans, how do we position ourselves in the right way?

The first step is to KNOW it.  To clarify what it is you actually want.  For Fiver, it’s easy, he’s hungry, he wants food.  

For us, it might be visibility to win business, to be known as an expert in a particular field, or to be seen as the candidate for a role or a promotion.

So first things first, clarify what is the end in mind?  

What is it you actually want?

What are you trying to get to?

What does success look like?

Complete the sentence:  I want to be known as someone who…. Who brings this impact or value…..

Second step is to OWN it!

I find this is where the doubt creeps in with people - what I hear is the following:

Who am I to say that?

Surely everyone can do that.

I don’t want to sound arrogant.

My work should speak for itself.

I’m not quite ready yet.

To which I say, let’s get over ourselves.  Time is of the essence.  We don’t live in a meritocracy and the best doesn’t always win. 

How do we counter this?  With recognising the evidence!

Most people have achieved, overcome, solved, done a good job.  

Few have clocked those achievements or the evidence along the way.  

Many have minimised it or chucked it over their shoulder never to be seen again.

They might say:

I had a good team, that’s why I turned around a difficult project…

I’m just helpful, that’s why people regularly ask me for advice…

I was promoted twice but I was just in the right place at the right time…

All minimising the evidence.

So the next step is to go through your CV, resume, list of roles and write down:  what did you do and what is the evidence.

Remove the minimisation.  What happened because you were involved.

Particularly look at difficult moments, challenges, bad days, good days - these are likely to be where you overcame.

Reframe anything you’ve previously minimised and get clear on the evidence.  In black and white.  Put it in the notes section on your phone so you can see it.

Particularly, note the evidence that supports your vision of what you are actually wanting.

Third step is to SHOW IT

Essentially, this is about giving enough consistent evidence to those around you to land the positioning you want.

How we show up everyday and in every interaction gives an impression to others, even from afar.

So whether it is in 121s, team meetings, meeting clients, being out and about, with peers, networking etc, live it breath it, be it.  

What is it?  It’s the end in mind that you actually want.

So if you are wanting to be seen as an experts in a particular field, bring that expertise.  If it’s wanting to be the number one candidate for a role or promotion, demonstrate that ability.

How do you do this?

Think about this:

What do you talk about?

What do you volunteer for?

What do you contribute in meetings?

What questions do you ask?

What expertise do you make visible?

Who knows what you want next?

What are you currently signalling — intentionally or accidentally?

How do you make this more intentional to fit the positioning YOU want?

I hope this helps.  If you need more or if you have a team that needs these skills, DM me.

#leadershipskills #careerskills #futureofwork