🕺 When I was looking for promotion there were many things that I knew I needed to do to win support. Everyone kept on telling me that I almost had to be doing the role I wanted, or at least seem as if I belonged in that role before I actually got it. 🏆
This wasn’t helpful really as I was aiming for the unknown role and I was unsure what that was.
🚀 However, one of the things I could do was to try and emulate one of the leaders I was trying to be and then look at the role itself when it presented itself.
In the article below, I try and unpick one of the ways, which is free and easy, to help you step into a role you don’t know you want or in fact have! 🏆
#gamingboardroomGreg SaintJon Bruford
May 17, 2023
When I was looking for promotion there were many things that I knew I needed to do to win support. Everyone kept on telling me that I almost had to be doing the role I wanted, or at least seem as if I belonged in that role before I actually got it.
Not helpful really as I was aiming for the unknown.
However, one of the things I could do was to try and emulate one of the leaders I was trying to be and then look at the role itself. One way I did this was to try and emulate their report writing style but with my own flourish. What I needed to learn was how to align my writing style with my manager’s, helping me to create reports that seamlessly blended with the expectations of them and the company.
So how did I do this?
To begin, I familiarised myself with my manager’s preferred style. Paid attention to previous reports or templates they may have used. I observed the language, tone, and formatting choices they employed looking at font and colour and spacing. By immersing myself in their established style, I gained valuable insights into their expectations and preferences.
However, I know that we all think differently and use different sentence structures, we have favourite words and there is a big gap between those with Master’s degrees or PHD’s and those that don’t. so when it comes to language, I learnt to aim for clarity and to be concise, which is not natural to me as I am naturally very wordy! I used plain and straightforward language to ensure my message was effectively conveyed and I avoided excessive jargon or technical terms unless they were necessary and were known to be commonly used within my team or company.
In terms of tone, I tried to mirror my manager’s approach. If they tended to adopt a formal tone, I maintained a professional demeanour in my writing. Conversely, if they leant towards a more casual or conversational tone, I did too. You must remember, the goal was and is to create a harmonious blend between your own voice and your manager’s.
Another valuable thing I did was to engage with my manager and ask them for guidance and feedback on my reports and asked for specific examples or requested clarification on any aspects I was uncertain about. This proactive approach demonstrated my willingness to learn and adapt, while it also fostered a deeper understanding of what they wanted or expected from me.
Once I had been doing this for a while and constantly checking in, I realised that when I got fewer requests for rewrites I was nearing my goal of getting it right. This then allowed me to have a mindset of continuous improvement. what I was then able to do was refine my own writing style over time and develop it into something that became my own.
So I guess the piece of advice here is to remember, the goal is not to mimic your manager’s style entirely but rather to find a way to balance your work and showcase your abilities while aligning with your manager’s expectations. By cultivating this alignment, you will show a sense of belonging and demonstrate your commitment to the company’s culture, so when it’s promotion time, you’ll have an edge on others and it’ll be easier for you to slip into a new role, knowing how you have to communicate with, what will then be your peer group!
Good Luck!
