Extraordinary Visibility

    Traveling to London twice in as many months helped me appreciate how technology changes the degree of personal visibility and privacy. CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) cameras throughout London blend into the background and often can be missed unless you specifically look for them. Recent estimates indicate about 300,000 cameras watch the city’s estimated 7.7 million residents. This city has one-seventh of the country’s population, resulting in one of the highest urban population densities in the world, similar to Tokyo or Mexico City. One camera for every 25,000 people records activities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 52 weeks per year. With that coverage, the chances are high that you will be captured on camera if you walk out of your residence.

     Choosing to work in a career with high public visibility is one thing. As a famous athlete or politician, you expect and often crave the public exposure. You don't have to blog or have a webcam on your website to stand out. But what could you do if you want to stand out in a more focused, discrete environment? Let’s consider three business situations and how to positively stand out and increase one’s personal visibility. In each of these situations, I will address a low technology method and also a technology tool.

Finding a Job

     A recent Wall Street Journal article grabbed my attention with the headline “If You Want to Stand Out, join the Crowd.” Sarah Needleman writes, “searching associations’ membership directories to identify talent…is the most common way recruiters find potential candidates who aren’t actively looking for a new job.” Being part of a large group can increase your professional visibility and help you showcase your talents. Think about the time you volunteered at a school function or a community event—or perhaps you already volunteer your time in organizations related to your career. To increase your individual visibility within your field, involve yourself in the groups that best match your own professional goals.

     When I was in my twenties, I volunteered to help my business school start its first alumni club in Chicago. It offered me a way to give back to my school and stay in touch with bright people. Little did I realize that I would still be involved with the school in various ways twenty-five years later. Recently I learned that many people don’t think about volunteering with non-profit or educational groups until later in life or when they are about to retire. That’s fine. The important point is to spend time with people and groups that matter to you—better late than never. Don’t hesitate to use emails and web-based directories to find causes and groups for which we want to volunteer.

Reaching your Customers

     Thousands of people have written books, articles and web essays discussing how to reach one’s customers. FISO leaders often discover new customer contacts by working with people from other companies who know these potential customers through personal or professional relationships. The FISO method of forming linkages serves them well in this realm. If you want to expand your client base, use some of the tools available to any size business, such as direct mailing. Because technology gives customers unprecedented power to find the product or service they need, at the right price, at the right place, and with the right promotion appeal, the “push” mentality of a marketing plan doesn’t always work. If you ever checked out a Consumer Reports on-line before you made a purchase, you know what I mean. Spend time on the “pull” side of marketing; i.e., develop your brand as strongly as possible—and don’t hesitate to use internet-based technology tools.

Contributing in Meetings

     In a large company, you can stand out and increase your visibility by insuring that your meetings not only educate those in attendance, but also produce meaningful action. Developing a reputation for running your meetings this way requires planning and effort over a sustained period of time. Leslie Wilson’s website discusses a brain-based approach to learning that can assist you in preparing for such meetings (see link below). I have used some of these techniques in my own meetings, and I believe they were quite successful.

      From a technology point of view, no PC or slide show can substitute for human interaction. When using technology for presentations, embrace as many of the five senses of touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste as possible. Or maybe create your own closed-circuit presentations by using video conferencing to deliver an experience that’s greater than simply the written word—and use the videoconference to increase the number and diversity of people involved in the meeting.

     Using suggestions from the three scenarios, you can develop an extraordinary visibility—one that will help you solve problems. And, next time you visit London, remember to look for cameras, as well as consider taking some photos yourself!

For Leslie Wilson’s brain-based approach
to learning, visit:
www.uwsp.edu/education/lwilson/newstuff/brain/using_brain.htm

© 2007 Blythe McGarvie
1-757-345-3595
bmcgarvie@LIFgroup.com