‘Playing the game with unwritten rules means forming relationships with the right people at the right time.’

‘Knowing who the power players are in your organization is vital to your professional success. Nurture those relationships over time because they will become essential to your career advancement.’

‘Use your voice to tell other people what you want so they have the opportunity to help you achieve your goals.’

‘Preparing yourself means positioning yourself for the best career outcomes by letting others in positions of leadership and power in your organization know about your aspirations.’

‘You need to ensure that your reputation is that of someone who brings value to your organization.’

‘Whenever you are preparing to speak to individuals about yourself and your career or when you are just giving them the chance to get to know you, do your homework as early as possible. Always know as much as possible in advance about anyone you are going to talk with about your career, but also come prepared with answers about … your goals.’

‘Always make sure that your development plan is tied to the business outcomes of your organization. They should always be measurable for the current year.’

‘If you wait for permission to have discussions about your career or until the designated time when your organization has such discussions with their employees, it will be too late. Your career growth and development is not a once-a-year conversation, whether you are speaking to your direct managers or others.’

‘To achieve your goals, you have to know when you can completely be authentic, when you can be somewhat authentic, and when you cannot be authentic at all.’

‘The network that you develop through building meaningful relationships is one of the most powerful tools you will have in your career.’

‘A sponsorship relationship takes time and is built on both your actions and theirs.’

‘What are you known for in your organization?’

Source:

Francine Parham (2022). Please Sit Over: How to Manage Power, Overcome Exclusion, and Succeed as a Black Women at Work