Trusting Opportunity

If you are in the profession of sales, and your key contact at a client quits, is this a good thing or a bad thing? If your boss moves to another department or a division, is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Both of these situations are full of risk. Your new manager may decide that they don't like what you're doing - or that they just don't like you. You suddenly have no credibility beyond your title and job description, and will have to prove yourself all over again. If you don't perform, you may even find yourself out of a job!

On the other hand, these situations are great opportunities.

• The opportunity to "convert" your old manager into a mentor, coach, and great reference.
• The opportunity to start afresh with your new manager, possibly even changing some of your responsibilities.
• The opportunity to be pulled by your old manager into their new group.

Earning the trust of your new manager is a key career skill that gets better with practice. In fact, earning the trust of those around you yields results well beyond the workplace.

This week's action item: Trust is something that shouldn't be taken for granted with a potential new manager - nor your existing one. Earning the trust of those around you is a skill that only improves with practice - so practice it by always delivering on your promises.

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Randall Craig is an expert on Career Development, Work-Life Balance, and Networking. For more information about how Randall can help you or your organization, go to www.PersonalBalanceSheet.com, or contact Randall by email through editor@ptadvisors.com.

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Copyright © 2008 Knowledge to Action Press and Randall Craig. All rights reserved.

Publication Date: January 8, 2008