Across all industries, there are elements that are critical to make success happen every role from coordinator to director. The people who embody these elements have what it takes to push initiatives forward and support leaders’ strategies. As a result, these MVPs become an invaluable resource and leaders will seek them out when it’s time to make decisions, granting them what everyone wants: a seat at the table. In order to amplify your value in the office and nail the Strategic MVP role, make sure that your actions are steeped in these five ideas every day:
1. Knowledge is your currency.
Treat facts and intel like they are manna from heaven. Collect as much as possible by being nosy where you can and making sure that you have the best information, data, and info pipelines available. In any organization, people like to talk about themselves, and want well-connected and knowledgeable people around them. Listening to others means that you create a well-informed network; use this to make sure that the right info gets into the right hands at the right times. This ability to broker information means that others will make better decisions because of you, which will turn into them wanting you around when they make decisions. All of this will result in you rocking out a seat at the decision-making table, which is the peak of effectiveness as a Strategic MVP.
2. Be Trustworthy.
You’ll hear a lot of people say “obtain buy-in” – but really what is that, actually? People buying in to your idea means that you have convinced those around you that this plan will not be a Hindenburg redux, and they can trust their baby in your care without you burning their house down. You have overcome the standard reaction that this new idea will result in Administrative Armageddon and gotten their trust that your roadmap leads to heaven. So drill down to the core and focus on building trust, and buy-in will follow. This can be a loooong process, but there are a few ways to fast-track it:
- Communicate updates like crazy & follow through ahead of schedule
- Be empathic & kind, in word and deed, even if it’s like putting a knuckle on a belt sander. Note: this is NOT synonymous with being a push-over.
- Create solutions that give voice to the ideas of as many stakeholders as possible. Make sure they know their voice is represented. Make sure they like it. If this is not possible, give them an explanation.
- Under-promise and over-deliver every time .... If you think you can produce a 9/10, tell them to expect a 6.5, and an 8.5 is a pie-in-the-sky. Then push yourself for a 9.5, since a 10/10 is only possible through luck.
3. Seek connections like a puppetmaster – in a good way. Really.
Being a people connector is the number one way to position yourself as a Strategic MVP. Find connections between departments, people, information, and results. Looks for connections everywhere, and be ready to bring those connections together. A business is basically a bunch of puzzle pieces in constant movement – Strategic MVP’s find ways to get them to click together. By uniting needs and resources, you gain gratitude friendship and trust of the people you connect.
4. Measure everything along the way.
This is important even when you don’t have an immediate need for the information. With this scientific approach, when someone wants to know about something, BOOM! You will be able to quantify your story, practically on the spot. Getting those numbers together quickly help others see connections and make better decisions. This makes you a MVP on several levels.
5. Be generous with your time, attention, and heart.
At the director level, this may mean making an elevator ride count through active listening and making the individual feel like the only person in the world for exactly 53 seconds. If someone is wasting your time, tactfully extract yourself, but never make others feel slighted. In those instances, the important thing is that you connected and did it well. For those who have less structured time and freer availability than a beleaguered COO, my top 3 bridge-building tactics include:
- Network your tail off. Make lunch and snack breaks count. Ask a colleague if they’d like to snag coffee with you, even if it’s 300 feet away. Always look for a way to interact in short spurts. It’s a cruel but true paradox that the best connected – not the most deserving – get their initiatives pushed forward. Just don’t let the networking cut into work time, of course.
- Attend those ridiculous meetings that you are invited to. Even if you don’t want to go - do it to show you care.
- Volunteer for projects no one else wants even when they are borrrring. These projects will often get you exposure to people you wouldn’t ordinarily speak to and will give you a great opportunity build strategic connections that you never thought possible.
