Showcasing Your Skills: Six Leaders Share What it Takes to Get Noticed

When I was grouping together the most frequently asked questions, from students and professionals, there was one question that popped up a lot on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and my blog, as well as in my email inbox. They wanted to know “what skills do you need to get noticed?” I shared my response to the question in my book, Answers for Modern Communicators: A Guide to Effective Business Communication.

When you’re in communications or any field for that matter, there is a long list of expected skills. Identifying and honing them is the first part. The second part (and the harder of the two) is getting your skills noticed. With all of the noise on social media and the amount of competition in the workplace today, you have to bring your “A” game everywhere you go, both online and in-person too.

Companies looking to hire a candidate will go right to Google and your social media profiles to learn more about you. Your public social media participation can say a lot about your brand, from your values, integrity, and ethics, to your passionate causes and personal interests. On social media, you can easily showcase your written and spoken communication skills and your ability to build relationships. For example, verbal skills are for all the world to see in your YouTube videos or when you Livestream and involve your community on Facebook. Your written skills can shine through in thoughtful posts on your blog. Instagram and Pinterest will help to showcase your creativity, curiosity, and ability to generate different ideas. Now, you can turn to LinkedIn, which is your online resume, and a place where friends and colleagues can endorse these skills for you.

Of course, you also have to think beyond social media, developing skills and knowledge outside of your online communities. For example, standing out means strengthening your negotiating or problem-solving skills in the workplace. Are you demonstrating your flexibility and adaptability to constant change at work? Another important skill to get you noticed includes how you navigate a stressful environment with certainty and ease. These, too, are important skills and knowledge that can help you to rise above and stand out amongst your peers.

In the spirit of answering questions and mentoring students and professionals, I’ve turned to several members of my talented Women Worldwide tribe. I’ve asked them to share the most important skills and what gets you noticed. Here’s what they’ve said, from short blurbs to more lengthy answers. These women are highly accomplished and have excelled in their careers because they've put these skills front and center and to good use. Now you can too!

Lindsay Griffiths, Director, Global Relationship Management, International Lawyers Network

To answer your question on “What skills do you need to get noticed,” this is one I’ve been considering quite carefully as I look to bring on a new hire in Europe. While I think some of it will depend on the individual organization, the industry, and what they value, I’m sure some of the skills are universal. For me, the things that stand out are the strategic ability to build relationships, being self-motivated and creative, and the confidence in what you bring to your role and an organization.

In terms of relationship-building, I put it in those terms over something like “team-building,” because I think it encompasses that idea as well – being able to strategically build relationships means understanding how to work well with various levels within an organization, as well as inside and outside stakeholders, all while deftly navigating the politics and roles that come into play. This is a very challenging and nuanced skill to have, so people who do it well and with empathy are incredibly impressive. Being self-motived and creative are important, and I include them together, because while I want someone who is disciplined enough to work hard for the goals of the organization, it’s equally important that that person can see where the gaps may be, and is willing to think about how to solve them and will address them proactively.

That ties into the third idea of having confidence in what you bring to a role and organization, because although I suspect plenty of us suffer from imposter syndrome (myself included), we also have to have the belief that our experience, ideas, and unique backgrounds lend something to a role that is not already present. And while we do all want someone on our teams who will dig in and work hard to achieve the organizations goals and strategies, it should be as essential that that person has the confidence to share the ways they think they can improve existing processes and procedures to add value to their role, the organization and its clients.

Susan Freeman, CEO, Freeman Means Business, Author, Speaker & Podcaster

The skills a woman in business needs to succeed include but are not limited to the following behaviors than can be summed up as having "grit and grace":

• Attribute your successes to your own abilities, talent, and knowledge, taking credit where it is due and emphasizing your accomplishments,
• Put yourself forward for promotions and stretch assignments.
• Go for new opportunities where you may not be 100% qualified but know you are 100% capable.
• Sit front and center in meetings so as to see and be seen.
• Project when you speak so as to be heard.
• Listen with empathy, not judgment.
• If interrupted, continue and state that you'd like to finish your thought/comment.
• Exhibit leadership behavior and traits such as honesty, integrity, passion, compassion, persuasion, influence, authenticity, genuine, self-aware.
• Most importantly, you must have the ability to communicate effectively.

Dr. Karen Jacobson, High-Performance Strategist, Speaker & Author Author

Be creative, think differently. Distinguish yourself by walking in the same direction on a parallel path. 

When I lived in Manhattan I used to take the subway every morning. I noticed that once we got off the train everybody was using the same side of the street and it would get very crowded.

I never enjoyed walking thru busy crowds so I decided to use a different exit that was a bit out of the way but put me on the opposite side of the street. There was way more room there and I could still head in the same direction.

Be willing to do something different and stick to it, using innovation and tenacity.

Corina Manea, Brand Strategist, Digital Marketer & Blogger

Attitude is probably the most important skill and behavior to have. I know it’s not per se a skill, but I do consider it as the most important thing to develop. It all starts with attitude. Then, comes the drive to succeed. If you don’t have the drive, then you won’t put your heart into anything and you won’t give it your all. Focus is the third skill you should have. When you're focused, when you’re completely immersed in what you want, in what you’re doing, you don’t let anything distract you. You give it your all and you get the attention of the right people who can make a difference in your career or business.

Donna O'Donnell Figurski, Caregiver, Author & Podcaster

So, you’ve written a book. I did! Or, you’ve started a new company. I didn’t. You want the world to know about your great endeavor because you think the world needs your expertise. Well, if you’ve gotten this far in the process, you already have many amazing skills, but what skills do you need to get noticed? As a writer, I need to get out in front of my audiences. I need them to know me personally, so I do speaking engagements, podcast/radio interviews, or book signings. For each of these, I need to have a good speaking demeanor, which wasn’t always easy for me. I would have considered myself shy in my earlier years. But, with maturity and blossoming courage, I am able to confidently share my story in the hope that my words will be the catalyst to help others.

Sheila Murphy, President & CEO of Focus Forward Consulting & Career Coach

Managers take notice of employees who think strategically, connect the dots and develop innovative solutions to problems. They also want people who are passionate about what they do and are committed to learning and improving. When deciding whom to invest in -- managers want to see that an employee has more runway for growth ahead of them and learners almost always do. Finally, all the skills in the world are worthless if you are not a good communicator which includes strong listening and influencing skills or you cannot inspire people to do great things.

It's your turn to answer the question: What skills do you think will get you noticed? Share what's helped you to stand out from the crowd and what you're working on that sets you apart.