Let me introduce you to the concept of the Professional P.I.E, and no we aren’t talking about any dessert. Did you know that how well you do your job has very little to do with how successful you are in your professional career? According to the Harvey Coleman book Empowering Yourself, The Organizational Game Revealed. Coleman declares that career success is based on the 3 key elements of performance, image and exposure (a.k.a. PIE):
Performance: this is about the day-to-day work you’re tasked with and the quality of the results you deliver. This is the foundation of your success.
Image: this is what other people think of you. Your personal brand. Do you maintain a positive attitude? Do you lead with solutions to issues, or are you the person that solely offers roadblocks when others suggest changes or alternatives?
Exposure: who knows about you and what you do? Does your boss know what you do? Does their boss know you and what you do? Do others inside and outside your organization know anything about you? Exposure with a poor image is negative exposure. You can choose how others will view you. Remember, you are ALWAYS presenting an image. Who you know, and more importantly, who knows you, is the critical element of success once performance and image have been established? Exposure is critical to network up and find the right mentors.
The more unsettling aspects of Coleman’s conclusions revolve around the weightings placed on these elements: performance counts for 10% of your success, image 30% and exposure an incredible 60%.
Although the book was published way back in 1996, its implications still resonate true today. To be truly successful you need to ensure that you have a balance between the three components and that’s why personal branding plays such an important role. What better way to work on your image and exposure than by the use of personal branding techniques, to assure that you are both seen and heard.
In the next lesson, Establishing the Basics, we will focus on ensuring that your LinkedIn profile is set up for success.
