INTHEBLACK December - January 2022 - Magazine - Page 42
ELEVATE BUSINESS AS USUAL
Career milestones
STORY NICOLA HEATH
42
DEC 2022
JAN 2023
CAREER
MOMENTS TO
ACKNOWLEDGE
Some lesser-known yet important career moments are worth
remembering – even receiving critical feedback.
When we think of moments that
define our career, we typically think
of when we aced an interview for
our dream job, pitched a milliondollar idea to investors or wowed
key stakeholders at a make-orbreak meeting.
Workplace expert Michelle
Gibbings highlights how to make
the most of four unsung moments
that can have an impact on our
professional lives.
1. IMPORTANT “FIRSTS”
Celebrate your important “firsts”.
It could be “the first time you get to
manage a team, the first time you
get to present to the board or senior
management, the first time you get
asked to lead a significant project,
or the first time you do a media
interview”, says Gibbings.
What makes these moments
significant is what happens
afterwards. Today’s demanding
schedules leave little room for the
kind of analysis that can help us
to learn and grow.
“When you’re working and
busy, you often go from one task,
one activity, one event to the
next,” she says.
Instead, try to make time to
stop and reflect. Think about
INTHEBLACK CAREER, ELEVATED SPECIAL EDITION
what went well, what did not
go well and what you learned
about yourself and others.
Use these insights to improve
your performance in the next
professional challenge you
embrace.
2. CRITICAL FEEDBACK
The first time you receive
critical feedback can knock your
confidence. However, while
uncomfortable, the experience
can be extremely valuable.
Gibbings suggests that, when
evaluating others’ criticism of
our performance, we consider
two factors – their intent and
their expertise.
“When feedback is provided
with good intent and is grounded
in relevant experience, then it is
incredibly important,” she says.
Although critical feedback
can leave you feeling angry or
defensive, if it fits the above
criteria, it is important to
take it on board and treat it as
constructive, rather than negative.
“Ask questions to see what more
you can learn,” says Gibbings.
“Then reflect, challenge yourself
and determine the best action for
you to take to move forward.”
3. MEETING THE CEO
A meeting with the CEO is
an opportunity to make a good
impression and amplify your
achievements. To make the most
of the encounter, be prepared.
“Be ready for the conversation,”
says Gibbings. “Get clarity on
the objective of the meeting
beforehand, so you are prepared
for it.”
This includes being “on time,
well organised, focused and ready
to engage”, including sharing ideas
or asking questions.
Early in his career, Rob Apatoff,
executive director of the Kellogg
Institute, went to great lengths
to prepare for a meeting with the
company’s CEO – even if it was
an incidental crossing of paths
in the lift.
“Every time you’re in front
of the CEO or C-suite, you are
being judged – consciously or
not,” he says.
“Executive interactions you’ve had
over the years will speak volumes
about how buttoned up you are,
your perceived maturity, how clear
you are in your communications,
how much command you have
of your business and, ultimately,
whether you are promoted.”
