Lovable Fool

It took me a long time to realize a few simple truths that I will share in case anyone else is finding they are in a similar spot. There is a big difference between liking someone and promoting someone. To put it in other words you can be the most liked person in the office and stay at the bottom of the org structure for as long as you let your attitude and behavior keep you there.

There was an article I read approximately 5 years ago as part of a class course study that probably changed my professional life more than anything else. Here is the article by Tiziana Casciaro and Miguel Sousa Lobo. I realized on an honest assessment from myself and the feedback of a trusted colleague that I was in the wrong box in this matrix and needed to make a few changes

If you are a lovable fool here are three things you can do to help yourself and your career.

1.) Get some training, a degree a certification something that will get some letters behind your name. It helps build competency and confidence in your abilities. It also helps others have some confidence in your abilities

2.) Shut your mouth a little more. Keep the fact that you are hung over to yourself. Weekend plans that involve binge drinking, blow-up dolls should be kept to yourself. While everybody tends to love the party guy, most people aren’t chomping at the bit to put them in P\L management positions. – Keep personal drama

3.) In this day and age of interconnectedness remember there is a difference between co-workers and friends. Kept them separate. Separate circles and sharing properties in social media apps. Even if you are friends with them in real life – still restrict them to the co-worker circles. The last thing you want is them to pull up a site in your office that has compromising pictures or access to different things that a person a cube over doesn’t – if they are a co-worker – restricted period.

You can be likable and reserved especially if you tend to have a foul mouth and a heavy hand on the vise. Just keep it separate.

It sounds simple, be professional, but sometimes the need to fit in or be liked tends to make us compromise our future enterprise prospects.

A lesson I am happy I learned when I did.