Problem:
You don’t know enough people, you’re not connected, you feel like you don’t know what’s going on, and you’re not contributing significantly.
Solution:
Show up.
By that I mean a couple of things. First, it means to actually show up at meetings or events where you can connect with other people and learn what’s happening. Meetings always get a bad rap, everyone hates them and thinks they’re a complete waste of time. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: I love meetings.
The reason is because meetings are where you have the opportunity to connect with other people, to exchange ideas, to learn things, and to get involved. The general disdain for meetings has come from poorly run meetings where you’re not engaged and the purpose is unclear.
So as you show up for meetings, participate and get involved, you’ll be able to have more people connections, and be recognized as someone who’s active and engaged in a lot of things. Also, the more people you know (and what departments they work in) the more helpful you’ll be to other coworkers in the future who want to know about a particular area. You can say you know so-and-so and point them in the right direction.
The second meaning of ‘show up’ is about being actively present in all that you do. It’s about taking initiative and making something happen. Don’t just be an observer. Speak your mind, participate. Your contributions are valuable, don’t hold back.
That’s how you begin to make a name for yourself and become recognized as someone who’s well connected.
Just show up.
What does ‘showing up’ mean to you?
