Ever heard it’s great to be “tapped on the shoulder”? But how do you make that happen for yourself?
This came up recently during a Signature Leaders session with four top executives, and the insights were spot on. Enid Peachey, DVP Implementation at ADP, shared, “I’ve been tapped a few times for roles I didn’t expect, and I often wondered—how did this happen? It’s not just about showing results. You need advocates and sponsors who know you and can speak on your behalf when you’re not in the room.”
Kate Anderson, VP and GM Kitchen Ventilation at Broan-NuTone, added, “You also need to tell the ‘tapper’ what you want to do.”
While we’re all busy doing our jobs, our careers also need a different type of daily attention. It’s not enough to just deliver great work—you need to be visible, too. And if you’re working remotely? That can be even more challenging.
Performance equity is essential, but building relationship equity takes time. That’s why, at Signature, we focus on helping participants create strategic ways to grow those relationships.
Your manager and team know what you’re capable of, but it’s equally important for others outside your immediate circle to know your interests and how you think. As Pam Kimmet, CHRO at Manulife, put it: “It’s not what you know, it’s who knows what you know.”
Robin Boren, President at Southern Power, suggested reaching out to people you don’t know well for “get-to-know-you” chats. Ask them to spend 30 minutes sharing how they got to where they are and what they love about their current role. In the process, you can mention areas where you’d like to stretch or learn more.
We often encourage people to aim for “5 coffees” each month—with folks you barely know or haven’t met yet. Surprisingly, most people are open to sharing their journey.
And when someone taps you on the shoulder, it might not always be for a new job—but it could be for a new initiative, a role in an ERG, or an exciting project. These are all signs of growing visibility. And more visibility? That leads to greater velocity!
I’d love to hear your experiences—what’s the best career “tap on the shoulder” you’ve ever received? Or what strategies have you used to get noticed by the right people?
About the Author
Carol Seymour: Global Executive, Speaker, Author and Founder of Signature Leaders
Carol Seymour is a sought-after business leader and seasoned global executive of large and mid-cap size companies and private-equity backed turnarounds.
She founded Signature Leaders in 2013 which focuses on accelerating women into next level leadership and helping leaders create greater impact and influence. Signature Leaders was recognized last year as one of Inc. 5000 “Fastest Growing Private Companies”.
The Signature series of leadership offerings support the growth of women from Manager level up to and including C-suite executives. Today, more than 3000 global leaders across 6 continents have experienced a Signature program. Signature Leaders partners with more than 140 market-leading companies for their selective investments.
Carol is also a Founding Member of Paradigm for Parity and named one of the Top 40 Women Keynote Speakers for 2020 by RealLeaders Magazine.
Carol resides in Cashiers, NC. She has two married children, three granddaughters, and a grandson.
