Todd Defren, advice to up-and-comers

I have enjoyed reading Todd Defren’s blog, pr-squared. This latest post he has on there is definitely good reading. Go Todd!

The post is entitled ‘Behind Closed Doors.’ He focusses on, well, he focuses on himself as a youth. He recalls the anst he felt when he wasn’t invited to the important meetings at work. He describes himself as a ‘golden boy’ and expected to be involved in everything while he climbed the company latter. What his concern was at the time, was whether the bosses behind closed doors didn’t think him important enough to invite, or were they talking about him behind his back?

He fast forwards his career to the present day and affirms that indeed, management is talking behind the up-and-comers backs. He maintains that that is a good thing however. According to Todd, management is truly talking about the employees; How they can help and motivate each one.

His reassurance was that behind closed doors management can talk freely about career advancement and how to light the fire under those lagging.

In the end of the article he says that he wishes he knew then what he knows now. It would have saved him some stress.

What I take from this article may be a little backward from the public perception of ‘Behind closed doors.’ I tend to be the role-player at work. I do my job and smile at everyone. I help out where I can and work to stay neutral on the political scene. I have worked under the guys of not wanting to create waves and management will notice I am a nice guy.

This, I am finding, may not be the case. As Todd wrote, why am I not invited to the important meetings? There was a time a few years ago when I was on so many counsels and task groups that I was at work early for meetings three times per week. What happened?

Perhaps they have been talking about me, but am I giving them reason to talk about me as lagging or as an up-and-comer? I guess that ‘golden boy’ image needs some polishing. It’s time to get invited, to get some face time, to give them something to talk about.

I enjoy hearing advice from people who are where you want to be. Nothing is more motivational. Nothing pushes me to be an up-and-comer like advice from people like Todd Defren.