3 Unexpected Ways Self-Expression Can Help You Achieve Your Career Dreams
It’s all about communication.
Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels
As we move further into the 21st century, communication is becoming more diluted, reliant on technology, and devoid of actual human interaction. Whether in personal relationships or in the job atmosphere, nowadays we often communicate using the evolved version of AOL Messenger: relying heavily on emojis, text messages, and assumptions. But all of these are inefficient ways of conveying a clear message.
Though communicating through emojis may be acceptable with your BFFs, in the workplace, it’s a bit different. Your career persona is the direct result of the words you use. Maybe you’re seeking a raise that will truly make you feel valued at the job you love, or you’re ready to take your big idea to the next level and want to secure an investment from a venture capital firm. Whatever your current career goal, the result you desire is on the other side of powerful, efficient, and effective communication.
Implement the following tips into your conversational conversation at work to make your career dreams a reality.
Speak with authenticity.
Speaking authentically is the most powerful way to communicate, because there’s no conflict with our intrinsic being. In your most authentic state, you will be able to clearly communicate why you deserve a raise, why your idea will fulfill your purpose as a human being, and get others to see the potential of your dream.
Ask yourself the following questions to reveal the authentic answers that will support you in moving powerfully in your conversation:
“What do I want to accomplish through this conversation?”
“What is my purpose?”
“Is this idea in alignment with my beliefs and the organization's goals?”
Be vulnerable with your ideas.
By choosing vulnerability, the message you communicate is not colored by the thoughts and opinions of others. You’re able to confidently expose your ideas and beliefs, which in turn gives others on your team the permission to contribute and expand upon them.
Through your vulnerability, other people feel empowered to act on what fulfills them and is consistent with who they truly are. This creates a connection that will lead to tangible results that grow the organization and accomplishes the greater goal.
Ask yourself the following questions to remain vulnerable in your communication:
“What am I firm believer in?”
“Why does this matter to me?”
“How can the contribution of others help me win?”
Get curious.
By choosing curiosity, you allow listening to be a major part of your communication. Through listening, you allow others to share their valuable ideas, thought processes, and opinions while giving yourself the opportunity to learn something new. Curiosity is the place where a feeling of empathy becomes alive, results become possible, ideas become tangible, and success becomes inevitable.
Ask yourself the following questions in order to expand your knowledge and develop your ideas:
“How can my idea become better?”
“What don’t I know that others may know?”
“If this idea is to become successful, what is the possible overarching impact on me, my team, and the world?”
What’s possible when communication is clear, concise, and curious?
Everything that you have in life is the result of your communication. The things you dream of, the ideas you cultivate, and the tangible results you create become real through the profound ability to express yourself, make clear requests and convey a concise, yet powerful message. When used effectively, you can enroll others in your ideas and create the relationships that will take your businesses to the next level.
“Communication - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success.” - Paul J. Meyer
About the Author: Sarah Harrigan is a Confidence & Relationship Expert and the founder of Design My Vibe, an international life coaching & events service that helps individuals accomplish their personal & business goals through mindset transformation. Through one-on-one & group events, she helps aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs get off the beliefs that are preventing them from reaching higher heights. She frequently writes about confidence, relationships and effective communication for today’s leaders.
This post was published on March 24, 2019, and has since been updated.
MORE ON THE BLOG
4 Reasons Your Communication Skills are Really Lacking
Say it ain't so.
Think you’re great at communicating? Recent studies show that you might be wrong. According to PayScale, 46% of managers feel that recent graduates lack communication skills, and 44% feel that recent graduates lack clear writing skills. The difference between how graduates see themselves and how employers see graduates is frightening to say the least, and suggests that perhaps graduates aren’t gaining necessary experience while in school.
How you can brush up on your skills
Make sure that you communicate with your peers, managers, and colleagues to ensure that you’re all on the same page and nothing gets lost in translation. This will not only make your work more synchronized, but it will additionally promote respect and understanding. We’re all human and understand that unexpected events or situations arise, however if you don’t clearly communicate what you’re dealing with and feeling, people will not know and understand. If you don’t make your feelings and your situation clear, no one will be able to help.
Define your goals, priorities, and tasks
One of the best ways to clearly communicate with your peers is to define what you want to accomplish on your own, then relay this information to others. Do a self-assessment and figure out your priorities and tasks for the day, then build from there. Make an outline or a to-do list so you can clearly see what’s on your plate. Once you have figured out what you need to accomplish and how to prioritize each task, you can communicate this plan with others. You can also use applications like Trello to keep organized and keep team members up to date on your progress.
Remember that communication is a two way street
While communicating what you need from others is critical, remember that you need to ask others what they need as well. One of the downfalls many people have when it comes to communication is that they forget to ask what is needed of them. You might be communicating your needs to others, but don’t assume that others are doing the same.
Be sure to ask what is needed of you, what tasks need to be accomplished, and what deadlines need to be made. This will ensure that everyone is on the same page and that all bases are covered. If you know someone is notorious for changing the plan without communicating, get the information in writing. Send an email asking for specifics or timeline information. That way if something does change without being clearly communicated, you can refer back to the email to show the exact information you received.
No one should have to hunt you down
You never want someone to feel as though they have to hunt you down. If you want to cultivate relationships and establish trust, communicate clearly and in a timely manner. If someone feels as though they have to hunt you down to get an answer, they more than likely won’t want to work with you. Be the one to follow through with them! Follow up to a conversation, send a quick reminder for a meeting, or send an email with highlights from your previous phone call. If someone can see your reliability, this will help establish you as a reputable source and a good communicator.
_______________
Between social media, smart phones, and all the latest technology, millennials are often stereotyped for being completely connected, yet almost half of managers feel that recent graduates can’t clearly communicate. This statistic will make you rethink your communication skills, and make you want to be a better communicator. Make communication a priority, and it will help you stay on top of your tasks while also improving your reputation at work.
A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish individuals' application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your resume, style, and boost your confidence.