Will my boss think I'm job searching if I post on LinkedIn?
And will people judge me in general?
Careers are deeply personal; most executive career advice isn’t. Crux is here to help.
Ask a Career Coach
I know that it’s important for my career and future job prospects to be a “thought leader” in my industry and have a brand beyond what I do at my company (product management at Amazon), but how do I post on LinkedIn, write articles, or start speaking without my current boss, co-workers, and HR thinking that I’m job searching?
I’m also scared of coming off as overly promotional to other people in my network. How do I do this in a way that feels natural, not creepy?
In the midst of a career turning point or crisis? Crux wants to help. Send us your question to be answered (anonymously) by a career coach in an upcoming newsletter.
A Career Coach Says
Let’s start from the very beginning: Why do you want to be a “thought leader”?
It helps when we answer questions for ourselves instead of accepting other people’s ideas and expectations. If you don’t believe it's actually important to be a thought leader, then no advice or direction given will take root. So start there and make sure to define the value for yourself.
If you do believe that thought leadership will be valuable to you, the next question to ask yourself is: “What does thought leadership mean to you?” There is more than one way to do this. I suggest trying to name three to five individuals who you admire and then try to identify the types of ways they engage in thought leadership that feels authentic. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
I have some clients who like to write, and so finding ways to write blog posts, articles, or social media posts fits in their way of expressing themselves. For others, they may prefer to find podcasts to speak on. Or maybe it's trying to speak on a panel for industry events. You definitely don’t have to do everything. So if you don’t want to come off as “overly promotional,” think about what would feel more authentic to you. What approach speaks to your strengths and interests? How can you start small as you build up your confidence over time?
Lastly, there seems to be a lot of concern with how others will view you. Whether it's a concern that your coworkers and boss will think you are job searching or coming off as promotional to others, you seem to have a fear of being seen and judged.
I like to encourage my clients to pressure test their initial “Saboteur” thoughts. Instead of just taking those fears at face value, question them. How would you know if people think you are coming off as overly promotional? What would happen if that was true? Does it matter who the person is that is judging you? What is the impact on you if others were indeed judging you?
The same process can be used to explore your concerns about your company questioning your motives. For example, what is your real fear here? If it’s a fear of not seeming committed to your job and thus being at risk of being laid off, think about what other evidence or reassurance you can provide to your organization that you are committed to them. How does your thought leadership benefit your work or your company?
On the other hand, in the worst case scenario, if you were laid off, how would engaging as a thought leader put you in a better position to land a new job than if you hadn’t engaged in any self-promotion?
And lastly, we often stop ourselves from getting started because we are thinking too far ahead. Remember that you are just experimenting and trying out this idea of thought leadership. You likely won’t become a well-known internet presence or the keynote speaker in front of 10,000 people tomorrow (but that would be nice!).
Refocus your attention on the immediate next steps. What are small ways you can test this idea that feel comfortable? And how will you know whether or not you should keep going? That may be easier to conquer in the short term, and your confidence and competence in the area will build from there.
Meet the Coach of the Week: Jess Wass
In her own words:
I thought my career was going to be a linear path working upwards at prestigious organizations. I worked first in Finance at Lehman Brothers, then Strategy Consulting at Bain & Company, then corporate strategy at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and then running Operations teams at startups. But at times, these positions left me feeling limited, misunderstood, improperly managed, or just plain disrespected.
My understanding of my particular gifts crystalized during my time at Starwood. Leading corporate transformation efforts, I uncovered a gift for leading others through periods of change. I underwent a career shift and obtained my Masters in Social-Organizational Psychology with a focus in Change Leadership, essentially applying psychology principles to the workplace.
Now, I help individuals transform into the best versions of their work selves. Today, I’m committed to helping my clients break out of that rut and find a new understanding of the word “career.” I became a career coach to help others avoid the pain of ill-fitting jobs and find their path to a fulfilled, balanced life.
Crux subscribers: Check out Jess’ free workshop on "How to Actually Find a Job Where You'll Be Happy"
Jess’ Go-to Resources
Article: Everyone is Quitting. Here's the Right Way to Do It
Book: Essentialism by Greg McKeown
What We’re Thinking About This Week
In the midst of a career turning point or crisis? Crux wants to help. Send us your question to be answered (anonymously) by a career coach in an upcoming newsletter.