Popular

Anyone who went to high school understands the power of popularity. It means people seek you out, try to earn your friendship, and consider you an above-average individual. Becoming popular can be dependent on joining a certain team or organization, dressing and acting in a particular fashion, or even just a random coincidence. There’s no exact science behind it, but it is something a lot of people strive for.

While we’ve all heard the phrase ‘high school never ends’, does popularity translate to the corporate world in a similar manner? It definitely does. Within almost every group of people, there will be those who others tend to gravitate toward, usually the individuals who are socially savvy and highly charismatic. These skills serve them well and can lead to additional opportunities and promotions.

However, when climbing the career ladder turns into a popularity contest, the most qualified candidate is not always chosen. This can result in disgruntled employees and weak leadership.

The best advice is to try and round out your skills. If you are a charismatic individual, don’t coast off that one talent. Instead, build your expertise and never stop improving your abilities, so that when a promotion comes your way, you are prepared for the elevated role given you. In the same way, if you are the opposite, take some time to consider how you can grow as well. A lot of leadership skills, like encouragement and communication require charisma. Your goal shouldn’t be to become popular. Instead, you should focus on growing into the best asset you can for the company.

If you feel that you have reached this place, but are still being overlooked for promotion, give us a call. Sometimes the hardest situation to advance your career is the place where you got your start as they still see you at the skill level where you started. As recruiters, we can assess your abilities honestly and recommend you to a position that is a perfect fit. Call us today at 469-402-4000 to start a conversation about your future!