Why Your Hard Work Doesn't Stand on its Own--5 Tips to Build Your Career

Many think that if you are doing a great job delivering results, you will get recognized and get all the good things you have earned: raises, bonuses, promotions. Unfortunately, it doesn't usually work that way. So you're left to watch and wonder why less-capable people are getting all those things.

Here are a few lessons I have learned along the way:

1. WORKING TOO HARD CAN GET YOU STUCK

If you are consistently working hard and delivering great results and consume all of yourself doing it, remember:

NO ONE OTHER THAN YOU has any motivation to get you out of this situation!

And in this state you don't have a chance to do the necessary things it takes to get a promotion or a new opportunity, which always takes effort above and beyond your job description. You have to find a way to contain your job and make room for more.

Only you can do this.

Your boss, your company, your peers, your team, only benefit from your thankless dedication to results. Why would they spend any of their time to help you stop giving them the benefit of your hard work?

2. THE DECISION MAKERS IN YOUR COMPANY DON'T KNOW YOU

People fail to get recognized by the decision makers in their own company. Whey they are ready for a promotion, they often feel like the need to go to a new company to get it.

There's a simple reason. At the new company you are given an opportunity to sell yourself to the decision makers. You need to know how to create that opportunity in your current environment.

3. YOU NEED TO GET ON "THE LIST"

The skills you need to "Get the job" are different than the skills you need to do to "Do the Job". And if you are targeting an executive spot there is only one way to get it -- You need to be on the list of people that the decision makers are looking at.

There is always a list. If you're not on it, no amount of hard work and results are going to get you that job.

4. MANAGE POLITICS WITHOUT BEING POLITICAL

Don't get labeled as one of those people that is only managing their career! The first rule: Do your current job well no matter what!

First be known for results, then make room to do the things you need to do to get ahead, in a way that does not label you as being "political" (or annoying!). We've all seen those people that put more energy into managing their career, than doing their job.

That's NOT the formula for success! There is a constructive way to get recognized.

5. GET HELP

Many people are afraid to ask for help. Asking for help is rarely seen as incompetence, if you do it in a productive way. The last thing a manager wants is to have you suffer and struggle and not get the job done.

I have seen people who's egos prevent them from getting coaching, just slide into oblivion. If you are advancing your career, you will be in over your head from time to time. My strategy was to get as many mentors as possible. It made an enormous difference to my success.

DON'T FORGET TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE ALONG THE WAY

I have found it vitally important to have a sense of humor and generosity. Effective leaders are not the people who are entirely used up by their jobs. It's not always easy, but you need to make time for yourself and your family.

It doesn't just make your life better. It forces you to make room in your job which makes you more a more capable business leader anyway.

Patty Azzarello became the youngest general manager ever at Hewlett Packard at the age of 33. She ran a $1B global software business at the age of 35, and she became a CEO for the first time at the age of 38. A few of her roles were the VP and General Manager of HP OpenView, CEO of Euclid Software, and Chief Marketing Officer for Siebel Systems.

Patty is the CEO of Azzarello Group, http://www.AzzarelloGroup.com a unique leadership development organization because Patty is a real executive who has chosen to do this with her time. Azzarello Group delivers practical, experience-based tools to business leaders, through products and services including articles, online programs, executive coaching, public speaking, and workshops for business teams.