From the time I was old enough to listen, my grandpa imparted the following sage wisdom to me: “Be nice to everyone. You never know what side of the desk they’ll be sitting on.” This lesson in both relationships and humility has stayed with me my entire life. And, as I am wrapping up my twenty-second year in multifamily housing, I am struck by the truth within that statement. I have always tried to be nice to people, that’s my personality, but I realize the importance of this quality in business now more than ever. People help people they like, that is a fact.

I recently left a career at a company where I planned to retire. As I performed a postmortem on my time there, I discovered the limit of my career at the company had been reached, largely because my boss did not invest in me. A critical piece to career advancement within the organization was missing. There are several lessons to be learned from my autopsy, and I will share them with you in hopes you are able to avoid some of my mistakes.

Manage your reputation and your personal brand. There is so much talk about managing our online reputation and delivering exceptional customer service to our residents, but how are we perceived by our co-workers? Are we giving good customer service to them? Are we willing to go the extra mile?  Do we say YES to opportunity? Do we have a good attitude or are we curmudgeonly trolls everyone wants to avoid? Ensure your reputation is such that no one would speak a bad word about you. And of course, do not create an environment where others are comfortable gossiping with or around you.  Put an end to gossip!

Be your own advocate. Taking a back seat and being unnecessarily humble will not garner you a promotion and raise. You need to promote your accomplishments, not in a boastful and braggadocios way, but in a “check out why I’m proud of myself” way. Be sure to achieve credit and recognition for your accomplishments. The art of mastering self-promotion is understanding the balance of showcasing your talent and not behaving conceitedly.

Build a strategic network. There is an African Proverb which states, “It takes a village to raise a child.” My proverb is, “It takes a village to attain career goals.” It is critical to enlist the help of supporters in your quest for career achievement. Your direct supervisor surely needs to be part of your strategic network, because you will need him or her to advocate on your behalf. If you do not have a relationship with your supervisor where they will go to bat for you, you have the wrong supervisor. Surround yourself with people who will advocate for your career repositioning and who will sell you to potential employers. Industry partners are a great resource for this network. Attending industry mixers is a great way to build your network.

Be aware of the politics. The first step to recovery is knowing you have a problem, right? Same concept applies here. You have to recognize the politics that exist in the organization, in order to determine how you fit in to the political landscape. Keep your eyes and ears open to what is going on and insert yourself only where appropriate. Understand the rules and unwritten rules. Get a handle on who has power and who has influence within your organization and understand the culture of the company. You are likely to receive a policy manual whenever you start working at a new company, but there is a set of policies and procedures that never make it on to paper. Each organization has its own way of operating; a hierarchy, acceptable dress, language, office hours, etc. Ensure you are tuned in to the unspoken culture at your company and fit in to the expectations.

Find a mentor AND a sponsor. These are two distinct roles. A mentor is someone who will provide guidance for you on your career path. They will meet with you, share experiences, review your resume, and give you feedback – even if it’s difficult to hear. A sponsor is like a mentor on steroids. A sponsor can serve in the role of a mentor, but will also advocate on your behalf. A sponsor believes in you, has your back, and wants the best for you. (While this may sound like your mother, I do not recommend your mother serve in this role.) You may be surprised at who shows up as a mentor and a sponsor, so keep an open mind when looking for these roles to be filled. A mentor does not become a mentor by application process. In other words, you cannot ask a mentor to be a mentor. A mentor simply IS a mentor, likewise with a sponsor. These relationships develop over time and are generally mutually beneficial. Additionally, there are advantages to being a mentor as well as having a mentor, so start mentoring today.

Manage your career, not your job. Sometimes, it may look as if you took a step backwards or made a lateral change in order to move your career forward. You may feel your career is not progressing at your desired pace. Once you develop your plan, identify your career goals and stay the course. Do not get caught in the minutiae of any particular “job” or title, rather focus on skill development and how they will further your advancement. In the book Lean In, Sandberg references a concept she learned about referred to as the “career jungle gym”. We are all accustomed to the “career ladder”, but careers are much more akin to jungle gyms. Sometimes, we need to make a sideways move, or even move back, to get where we need to go. And the great part is, there is room for more than one at the top!

Let’s face it, office politics exist within every organization. “Ewww,” you say, “I don’t want any part of office politics!” This is an understandable response; however, it lacks perspective. Those who have ambition, (read: climb the corporate jungle gym) have a handle on office politics and know how to play the game. I’m not talking about insincere smoke-blowing. I’m talking about strategic, goal-oriented, and targeted behaviors fundamental to your personal growth and success.

In twenty-two years I have sat at many different desks, and I have had various people on the other side; vendor partners, bosses, co-workers, subordinates, plant care, food delivery, you name it! I know I wouldn’t have my current job without my relationship with an industry partner who sold me advertising. Every job I have ever had can be directly tied to a relationship I have and the network I have built. If I was unkind or indifferent, and didn’t heed the advice of my grandpa, I would not be where I am today.

Please share your comments regarding strategic career moves, relationships, advocating or office politics. How do you navigate the corporate landscape? Any additional tips I should have added here? I appreciate your feedback.