Blogging About Communication

Do you remember what it was like to play musical chairs when you were a child? All the kids would circle the chairs, smiling, and trying to look casual, until the music stopped. Suddenly, everyone wanted a seat. And there weren’t enough seats for everyone. The modern workplace is eerily similar. There often are more talented individuals than available promotions, special recognitions, or leadership roles. The good news? Unlike the children’s game of yesteryear, today’s workplace isn’t about tripping up a colleague to try and get in their chair. It’s about making sure you’re ready, when an opportunity arises.

Are There Chairs to Spare?

Because there are only so many “chairs” available, organizations don’t typically promote their employees at the same time. Thus, if you don’t land a promotion, it doesn’t mean you’re not valuable. The music simply has not stopped in your favor yet. In time, patience, persistence, and consistence performance will pay off.

Keep Moving, Even If No One is Watching

Standing still in musical chairs pretty much assures you won’t find a vacant seat. The same holds true at work. Keep learning new skills, volunteering for tough assignments, helping co-workers succeed. Keep moving forward, and you’ll be the person higher-ups think of when an opportunity arises.

Don’t Push Someone Out of Their Chair

Competition is healthy. Undermining a colleague is not. Kindness and collaboration will contribute to your having a surprisingly long career. New chairs are always being added. New skills are always in demand. Although you can’t control when the music stops or when an extra chair will appear, you can make sure you’re ready when it does.

ACTION PLAN

Make time this week to answer these questions: What is one skill that would make me more valuable in my current role? What project or responsibility might I take on that could enable others at work to notice my contributions? Who can I assist or encourage this week as they pursue their goals?