Don’t miss a chance to elevate your career. By preparing your Weekly Top 3 each week, you can find new ways to be your advocate and have your work noticed.
People make assumptions about you based on your job title. In reality, they have no idea who you are, what your job requires, and what projects you are leading. But how do you make sure your work gets seen without seeming obnoxious or feel like you are bragging. Friend, I got you. It’s time to elevate your career!
I will let you in on a little secret my mentor taught me: Develop a Weekly Top 3. What is a Weekly Top 3? Every week spend some time identifying the top three projects you are working on, and the little (or big) wins associated with those projects.
Take some quiet time on a Sunday night before the week begins or Friday before you shut down from the week (when the week is still fresh in your mind) and give yourself a mini-assessment. Mentally prioritize the top three things you are working on, and when you have the opportunity to engage in small talk with higher-ups, keep it work-relevant and showcase these achievements.
I’m sure your CEO loves to hear about your weekend brunch with girlfriends, but he’d probably rather hear about the project you’re working on and your latest win. By creating a mental list of your work and the impact you are making ahead of time, you are game-ready when the opportunity to stand out arises.
My top two reasons you’re missing out if you’re not creating your Top 3
Burying your worth
Do you feel like you can’t distinguish yourself from other people around you who are doing similar things or competing for the same opportunities? It is entirely natural to feel flustered and unsure whenever you encounter an impromptu (or scheduled) conversation with the higher-ups, but it’s unnecessary.
By creating your Weekly Top 3, you gain clarity around your work, your contributions, and your value amongst your peers. Ultimately, you will gain confidence in what you bring to the table.
You can win pretty or win ugly, but in the end, a win is a win. Tallying and communicating your contributions will help you stand out in your organization and help your contribution be seen, no matter how big or small.
Missed connections
Creating a network is a crucial part of elevating your career. Developing professional relationships strengthens your brand and creates new opportunities to collaborate with your colleagues. But how will people know they want to work with you if they don’t have a clear idea of the value of your contributions to the team?
Without a Weekly Top 3, you run the risk of not being ready when you need to remember your wins and your value to the team the most. Highlighting your work allows your colleagues to imagine how they might be able to collaborate with you. It expands your network and creates new opportunities for you to grow.
Being your own brand advocate takes practice. By developing the skills to talk about yourself and your successes confidently, you communicate your value clearly and unapologetically—without being that person. You are a valuable asset to the team. Friend, remind them why they hired you.
