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MY EXPERIENCE | MY EXPERTISE

Tag: networking

  • Is It Okay to Help Others Advance in Their Careers While I Am Not?

    Is It Okay to Help Others Advance in Their Careers While I Am Not?

    Is It Okay to Help Others Advance in Their Careers While I Am Not?

    Is it okay to help others advance in their careers? Maybe. You might have heard the advice, “help others to help yourself”. This means that by helping others, you can also benefit yourself in various ways. This is especially true in the workplace, where your coworkers are not just your colleagues, but also your potential allies, mentors, and friends. By helping others advance in their careers, you are not only doing them a favor, but also yourself.

    But how can helping others help you? Isn’t it better to focus on your own goals and interests? How can you balance your own career advancement with the career advancement of others? Is it okay to help my coworkers advance in their careers while I am not? In this blog post, I will answer these questions and show you how helping your coworkers advance in their careers can boost your own career in ways you could never imagine.

    You Build Trust and Rapport When You Help Others Advance in their Careers

    One of the most important benefits of helping others is that it helps you build trust and rapport with them. Trust and rapport are essential for any successful relationship, whether personal or professional. When you help others, you show them that you care about them, that you are reliable, and that you have their best interests at heart. This creates a positive impression and a strong bond between you and them.

    Trust and rapport are also crucial for your own career advancement. When you have trust and rapport with your coworkers, you can work more effectively and efficiently with them. You can communicate better, collaborate better, and solve problems better. You can also leverage their skills, knowledge, and connections to enhance your own. Moreover, you can gain their support, feedback, and endorsement for your own goals and projects. Having trust and rapport with your coworkers can make your work easier, more enjoyable, and more rewarding.

    You Expand Your Network and Exposure

    Another benefit of helping others is that it helps you expand your network and exposure. Your network is your net worth, as they say. The more people you know and the more people who know you, the more opportunities you have to advance your career. By helping others, you can grow your network and exposure in several ways.

    First, you can meet new people through the people you help. For example, if you help a coworker with a project, you might get introduced to their manager, client, or partner. These new contacts can open new doors for you in the future. Second, you can increase your visibility and reputation through the people you help. For example, if you help a coworker with a presentation, they might mention your name and contribution to the audience. This can raise your profile and credibility in the organization or industry. Third, you can access new information and resources through the people you help. For example, if you help a coworker with a research, they might share their findings and sources with you. This can enrich your knowledge and skills in your field or domain.

    You Develop New Skills and Knowledge When You Help Others Advance in their Careers

    A third benefit of helping others is that it helps you develop new skills and knowledge. When you help others, you expose yourself to new challenges and opportunities that can stretch your abilities and potential. You can learn new things, acquire new skills, and discover new insights that can improve your own performance and career.

    For instance, if you help a coworker with a task that is outside your comfort zone, you might learn a new tool, technique, or method that you can apply to your own work. If you help a coworker with a problem that is beyond your expertise, you might learn a new concept, theory, or principle that you can use to enhance your own understanding. If you help a coworker with a goal that is different from yours, you might learn a new perspective, approach, or strategy that you can adopt to achieve your own goal.

    You Increase Your Motivation and Satisfaction

    A fourth benefit of helping others is that it helps you increase your motivation and satisfaction. When you help others, you not only help them succeed, but also yourself. You can feel good about yourself, your work, and your career. Additionally, you can feel proud of your contribution, impact, and value. You can feel happy for your coworker, your team, and your organization.

    Helping others can also boost your motivation and satisfaction by giving you a sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment. When you help others, you are not just doing your job, but also making a difference. You are not just working for yourself, but also for others. You are not just pursuing your own goals, but also supporting others’ goals. Helping others can make your work more meaningful and fulfilling.

    How to Help Others Advance in their Careers Effectively

    Now that you know the benefits of helping others, you might wonder how to help others effectively. Here are some tips to help you help others in a way that is beneficial for both parties.

    Listen and understand their needs and challenges. Before you offer your help, make sure you understand what they need and what they are struggling with. Ask them questions, listen to their answers, and empathize with their situation. Don’t assume that you know what they need or want. Don’t impose your own agenda or solution on them. Let them tell you how you can help them best.

    Align your help with their goals and preferences. When you offer your help, make sure it is aligned with their goals and preferences. Don’t help them with something that is irrelevant, unnecessary, or unwanted. Don’t help them in a way that is inconvenient, intrusive, or disrespectful. Help them with something that is relevant, useful, and appreciated. Help them in a way that is convenient, supportive, and respectful.

    Be respectful and supportive of their autonomy and decisions. When you help them, don’t take over their work or responsibility. Don’t micromanage them or dictate them. Give them the space and freedom to do their work their way. Respect their choices and opinions. Support their efforts and achievements.

    Conclusion

    Is it okay to help my coworkers advance in their careers while I am not? The answer is yes, it is okay. In fact, it is more than okay. It is beneficial, rewarding, and fulfilling. By helping others, you can also help yourself in many ways. You can build trust and rapport, expand your network and exposure, develop new skills and knowledge, and increase your motivation and satisfaction. You can also create a win-win situation for everyone involved.

    So, the next time you see a coworker who needs your help, don’t hesitate to offer it. Don’t think that you are losing your time, energy, or resources. Or don’t think that you are giving away your competitive edge, or creating more rivals. Don’t think that you are sabotaging your own success, or boosting someone else’s. Think that you are creating a positive impact, a strong relationship, and a mutual benefit. Think that you are helping others to help yourself.

    Sources:

  • How do you keep your connections?

    How do you keep your connections?

    We all hear about building connections. That networking is a powerful tool, especially in business. It could help you achieve many great things during the course of your life. And in our personal matters, during the low points in time, the people we know could help us get up, stand up, and face the world again.

    We frequently hear about the importance of building connections and cultivating strong networks. This emphasis on networking is particularly crucial in the realm of business, where it can open doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and advancements. A well-established network can facilitate numerous accomplishments and contribute significantly to one’s professional trajectory. Moreover, when faced with personal challenges and hardships, the support and assistance of individuals within our circle can be instrumental in helping us navigate through difficult times, providing the encouragement and resources needed to overcome obstacles and emerge stronger.

    But how do you build connections? Let alone, how do you keep it? Does it really matter who you know? And truthfully, do you see the people you meet as someone you could take advantage of in the future for your own benefit?

    Building connections often starts with genuine communication and finding common ground with others. It involves reaching out, showing interest in someone else’s experiences, and being open to new perspectives. Keeping connections, on the other hand, requires investment and effort – staying in touch, supporting each other, and being there in both good and challenging times. It’s about building a foundation of trust and reliability. Does it really matter who you know? While it’s important to develop a network of connections, what matters most is the quality of those connections rather than simply the quantity. Meaningful, authentic connections often lead to valuable opportunities and support. And truthfully, do you see the people you meet as someone you could take advantage of in the future for your own benefit? Genuine connections are based on mutual respect and understanding, not on exploiting others for personal gain. It’s more productive to focus on building relationships that are rooted in trust, empathy, and mutual support, rather than solely seeking personal advantage.

    To really build your network, you have to help. Everyone that comes into your life will need help and you must enable yourself to be able to help them, any way you can, as much as you can, to overcome their problems, challenges, and difficulties.

    This assistance can take various forms, such as providing emotional support, sharing your knowledge and expertise, giving practical advice, or simply being a good listener. By actively engaging in offering aid to others, you not only strengthen your relationships and connections but also create an environment of reciprocity where help flows naturally in both directions. Furthermore, being a source of support for others can lead to personal growth and development, as it challenges you to empathize with different perspectives and find creative solutions to diverse problems. Therefore, by embracing a proactive attitude of helping, you not only enrich your network but also foster a culture of mutual assistance and empowerment.

    It is not about thinking that you can use, for the lack of a better term, the person for your own personal gain. If you are thinking that way, stop. All of us carry our own cross. We should start thinking about how we can be of service to anyone who needs it.

    It’s crucial to recognize the humanity in others and approach every interaction with empathy and kindness. Instead of seeking personal gain, we should strive to uplift and support those around us, fostering a culture of compassion and understanding. We should start thinking about how we can be of service to anyone who needs it, extending our hands and hearts to offer assistance, guidance, or simply a listening ear. By shifting our focus from self-interest to communal well-being, we can create a more harmonious and caring environment for everyone.

    The people you will know will remember you

    When my former work colleagues contact me offering me a better job, I honestly get surprised. Why? Because I just worked with them before and we are not really close. We don’t really know anything about each other’s families or each other’s past ordeals. But when I talk to them, they will always say they remember the work I did to help them manage their own responsibilities and think I could help them again.

    This kind of unexpected recognition and appreciation makes me reflect on the impact I had at my previous workplace. It’s a reminder that the efforts I put into my work, even if not immediately recognized, can leave a positive impression on others. It’s a testament to the importance of professionalism and dedication in any work environment.

    Looking back, I always take pride in my work. I always put enough effort relative to the need. What they need is what I provide and a little bit more, in case they need more. And that I believe helped them deliver and perform in their own roles.

    I consistently strive to go above and beyond the requirements, anticipating any additional needs that may arise. By providing not only what is asked for, but also offering extra support and resources, I aim to ensure that all necessary bases are covered. This approach has proven beneficial, as it has contributed to the success and effectiveness of those I work with, enabling them to excel in their own roles.

    Go help

    Building and keeping your connection is all about being of service to other people. When we put ourselves aside to extend a hand to others, it brings a sense of fulfillment. Helping to the extent of our abilities and resources is a must in this world. Without expecting anything in return, we create a cycle of being there for one another.

    By consistently offering our assistance and support to those around us, we not only nurture these relationships but also experience a profound sense of purpose and satisfaction. It is essential to contribute to the well-being of others to the best of our abilities and within our means. This selfless approach fosters a positive cycle of mutual support and care, where individuals are devoted to aiding one another without any expectation of personal gain, ultimately creating a more compassionate and connected world.

  • HELP

    HELP

    Asking for help is sometimes a difficult task for us to do. But knowing when we need it and seeking for it may help us to become better.

    The time I wrote this, we just had our strategic planning for our fiscal year of 2023. It is the first time in 6 months that I met every leader involved in our project. People came from different backgrounds. There were those who worked abroad for at least 2 years and some for 10 years. They have seen what the world can offer and know that the team can do more because everything is possible.

    There are some who are just starting their careers as leaders and brought with them tremendous expertise in their fields. They are analytical and data-driven in their approach.

    There are some who changed from one career to another and had brought consolidated experience and knowledge with them to bring the project to a success.

    Not to mention that we all came from different places and our own native cultures. The way we speak. The way we see things. Some are very fluent and very articulate. Some immediately command the room with just mere presence. And some are quiet and introverted.

    We also had beauty queens as a bonus.

    One of the things that came up in one of our activities is that someone wished he or she knew more about the project. Another one has a very great idea for a solution to an existing problem that he or she cannot do by him/herself.

    So what’s preventing the solution from becoming a realization? It is being quiet. Being silent. Keeping it for him/herself.

    Why is that? Maybe the person is afraid to ask questions for fear of being judged. Maybe that person does not know who to ask and just wishes everything will be fine. Or maybe his or her direct manager did not listen.

    Whatever the reason is, the strategic planning session we had connected us to the rest of the leadership team whom we only knew by email or chat or virtual calls and by what they needed, what we needed, and when we needed it. The session helped us realize that we have a big team coming from different walks of life, expertise, and corners of the world who we could ask for help.

    Yes. Ask for help. It is not something to be embarrassed about. Asking for help won’t make us incompetent. It would actually be the reverse. We can do more greater things by seeking help.

    When I was a Real Time Analyst and creating an automated report, I learned that asking for help could accomplish more. There was a line of code that I was struggling and being young back then, I wanted to own the project I was doing and do everything on my own. But that roadblock really prevented me from completing the project. My co-RTA then, who is now an Assistant Vice President for one major bank in the US that has operations in the Philippines, saw me having issues. He immediately offered his help. I was reluctant at first but I want to finish the project so I let him help. And voila! A simply added syntax made the automation work! From then on, I always ask him for help and I get to learn new things.

    Someone I know had not been responding to an email that got escalated after the fourth follow-up. The email lasted for 3 weeks unanswered. I asked the person what happened and the reply I got is, “I don’t know how to reply so I put it off. “ I told the person to ask me next time as I could help and provide guidance.

    We all live on the same planet. We are more interconnected now compared to before the fall of the Berlin Wall and without the internet. We can talk to anyone we haven’t met. We have arguments with people we don’t know. We make friends with those who has the same interests as ours from the other side of the globe.

    If you are struggling, ask for help. You can ask anyone. The first person you’ll talk to might not be the one that can help you but, eventually, you’ll find that person that can hold your hand and get you up.

    When faced with challenges, don’t hesitate to seek help. Reach out to anyone you can. The first person you talk to might not be the one who can assist you, but eventually, you’ll find someone who can guide you and lift you up. Remember that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It takes courage to admit when you need assistance, and it’s a step toward growth and progress. Embrace the support available to you, and trust that there are people willing to lend a helping hand.

    Imagine a vast network of interconnected souls—a safety net woven from empathy, compassion, and shared experiences. Each thread represents someone willing to extend their hand, to guide you through the maze. It could be a friend, a family member, a mentor, or even a stranger who becomes an unexpected ally.

    Consider the courage it takes to say, ‘I need help.’ It’s akin to stepping onto a bridge suspended over uncertainty. Beneath that bridge flows the river of vulnerability, and as you cross, you discover that vulnerability is not weakness—it’s strength in its purest form. It’s the raw honesty that binds us together, allowing us to lift each other up.

    So, when life’s challenges cast shadows, remember this: You are not alone. Seek out those who can share their light. Be open to receiving, for in receiving, you also give others permission to lean on you when their own paths grow dim.

    Embrace the mosaic of support—each piece unique, yet essential. And trust that, eventually, you’ll find the person who holds the missing fragment, completing your picture of resilience and hope.

    Asking for help isn’t merely about lightening your load; it’s about expanding your capacity. It’s acknowledging that collective wisdom surpasses individual understanding. When you lean on others, you tap into a reservoir of shared experiences—a wellspring of resilience that quenches your thirst for growth.

    Don’t take it all by yourself. Ask for help. By doing so, you become better than you were yesterday.