Getting ahead: It's who you know that counts
We like to think that promotions and advancement come to those that work hard, and are worthy of the advancement. Right? A recent survey has found that employees don’t see things that way. It seems they think it’s not just job performance, but good ol’ fashioned office politics. Who you know is what really counts at work—or so employees think.
The results come from a survey asking employees “what it takes to get ahead” in their organization. Of the 516 employees from both American and Canadian companies surveyed:
- 44% responded with “who you know” as being the most important factor
- 39% rated job performance as the most important factor
- 13% said they didn’t know because it was never made clear
This is a clear sign of workplace cynicism and a lack of employee engagement, according to the report. It does, at first glance, seem to indicate that employees are not feeling hopeful of a promotion any time soon.
But when you think about it though….. of course it is “who you know” that matters.
It’s not just work ethic and job performance that makes a great employee; it’s also social fit as we’ve talked about before. And wouldn’t who you know be a part of that? Being known within an organization is obviously going to improve somebody’s chances of getting ahead.
In any case, if you’re looking for ideas on how to motivate and engage staff, take a look at yourself first. These 5 signs of an extraordinary boss can be clues for keeping your top talent happy, and convinced of their chances to get ahead.
Category: Industry News & Insights