Madeleine Morgan of Growu writes:
When a manager I was coaching recently was wondering how to manage the expectations of team members who were frustrated because they weren’t getting promoted fast enough, I remembered a very handy equation: V + C = P.
I wish I could claim credit for inventing it but actually I picked it up when I was being trained by a business networking group I belong to called BNI (Business Networks International). This equation has helped thousands of BNI members in 54 countries to earn billions of pounds in business through referrals.
‘What does it stand for and how can it help me in my business or career?’ I hear you ask.
In the equation V + C = P, V stands for Visibility (how well you’re known and seen), C stands for Credibility (being visible for the right reasons) and P stands for Profitability or, if you have a career, Promotability…and if you’re a leader…Persuasive-ability.
But what does that mean?
In a networking group, new members can’t expect that existing members will immediately have the confidence to refer the new members to their friends, families, clients and colleagues as trusted suppliers of services and products. New members have to win the trust of existing members. This may take some time. How fast it happens depends on how well new members establish their visibility and credibility.
It’s the same when an employee joins an organisation or business. As a new employee, you have to win the trust and confidence of the people working with you, especially your manager, if you want to fast track your career.
If you’re new in a leadership role, establishing you visibility and credibility in the right way will help you to persuade people to follow you more confidently. In our very democratic society you can’t assume people will automatically follow you just because you have a powerful position or title.
So how can you increase your VCP? There are thousands of ways. Here are just 7 ideas:
- Display a positive and helpful attitude with others – think of others as part of your team
- Get involved and offer to help – look to give first rather than gain first
- Network with potential referral partners, movers and shakers and others with whom you can have a mutually beneficial relationship
- Do what you say you’re going to do and keep your side of the bargain
- Look for win-win ways for everyone who is involved with you to profit by your wisdom, contacts, positive attitude and other skills and resources. And…for you to profit by theirs.
- Share your knowledge, experience and useful ideas in meetings, in a blog, on LinkedIn, in your company’s Knowledge Base, on YouTube, in a book you publish etc. This will help you be seen as an expert and ‘go-to’ person.
- Learn more so you can grow, become even more resourceful and add even more value.
Free 1-2-1 VCP Coaching Discovery Session
Is your VCP scarily low? Would you like to create more fireworks in your business or career? If your answer is yes, the free VCP Coaching Discovery Session below could be for you.
If you’ve never been coached before and you’d like more ideas about how to increase your VCP in your business or your leadership role or your career, I’ve got 4 spaces in November for free 1-2-1 VCP Coaching Discovery Sessions.
This is where we discuss where you are in your business or career and where you’d like to be and work out how you can become more Profitable or Promotable or Persuasive.
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