Relationship Skills

How to make a career? Shouldn’t competence be the most important?

I read somewhere a research that that is not true. The most important factor, a staggering 80%, depends on the ability to network / build relationships.

I found it difficult to believe; hence I asked some of my friends who did make a very respectable career.

So far I asked 3. All three confirmed that, though, difficult to measure,  being known to the right people and being in their ‘good books’ counts for more than 50% (at least) to make a career.

One reason is that judging performance is already subjective. Mostly, there is no unshakable truly objective way of measurement. People who like you will say ‘well done’; people who don’t will say ‘could be better’.

Takeaway points:

Actively look for opportunities and to talk to people, network.

Take every encounter with another person as a networking opportunity. Give people the feeling that you are happy to meet them, talk to them. At a beginning of a conversation, DO NOT contradict people. Spend more time asking for their opinion, how did they reach certain conclusions, listen well.

Project yourself always as positive (towards your job responsibilities and work environment), open (to change), supportive (to company policy).