YOU as a Product
If you are looking to get promoted at work or embark on a new career, you might want to take stock of “you” as a product.
As a former recruiter, I can tell you that what you think you are hiding will show eventually. Sure, you might make it all the way to the final interview, but at the eleventh hour, the hiring manager or CEO may get a sense that something is amiss—and then you are done. The idea is not to hide certain aspects of yourself, but to work at removing the corrosion of stress to reveal your true, authentic self—not a stressed-out, resentful, exhausted version.
Emotional Intelligence: Emotions are not just for sissies.Every action, thought and belief you’ve ever had is backed by emotion. Emotionally intelligent people recognize this and can better communicate, problem-solve, assert themselves (without attacking), and can control their impulses.
Mental Health: Hey, there is no shame in having some professional or personal baggage. I know I have had some. I was fired once, and I held a grudge about it for years—even after I had happily started my own company and was achieving greater success. I highly recommend six or so sessions with a licensed mental health professional if you suspect you are carrying some emotional baggage. It’s a necessity—not a luxury—if you are going to put yourself out there for a big career change or if you are hoping to get promoted.
Anger Management: If you suspect you might have some issues with anger, see Mental Health above. Seriously, unchecked anger in today’s litigious environment can be a career ender.
Physical Health & Fitness: It’s when you don’t have the time to work out or attend to your medical needs that you need it the most.The easy payback for even a few weeks of a solid fitness routine is that you will be more clear-headed, clear-eyed and vibrant. This is no time to martyr yourself by skipping workouts or putting off important doctor visits. Being healthy and physically fit will add to your confidence.
Sleep: About 90% of my clients are dealing with sleep issues at the start of our work. There are an abundance of excellent blogs, articles and remedies for improving sleep; do yourself a favor and figure out what works for you. Sleep impacts perspective, and we all know that perspective is everything.
Wardrobe and appearance: For the sake of brevity here I would like to remind you of a concept called the Halo-Effect. Basically, people who look nice and appear professional get more attention, job offers and positive responses from others for no other apparent reason. Yes, your brilliant skills matter—but not if you look like you slept in your clothes or purchased them in 1972!
