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Gaya

Sometimes, the person who gets promoted isn’t the most intelligent person in the room. They’ve simply mastered the art of reading the room.

We <a href="https://aura.ng/fashion/abeg-how-much-does-the-lagos-baddie-lifestyle-really-cost-">asked</a> a few successful Nigerian professionals what they’ve learnt about standing out at work, and their answers were interesting and unique.

“For the longest time, I thought my prowess would speak for itself. Eventually, I realised it couldn’t if I remained invisible. I’d spend weeks perfecting a project, only to submit it and start dodging every opportunity to present it during our staff meetings. Meanwhile, someone else would confidently present work that wasn’t even half as polished and somehow become the “employee of the week”.

It took me a while to realise that visibility isn’t pride or showing off. People just can’t value work they don’t know exists.

So, I started putting myself out there more intentionally. Even when I was unsure, I began with little things like giving my manager regular updates, whether they asked or not. And it made a huge difference to <a href="https://aura.ng/the-streets/7-money-habits-that-keep-high-earners-broke">my career</a>.

Leaders appreciate employees who communicate confidently. It tells them, ‘I know what I’m doing, I am not afraid to speak up, and you can trust me with bigger responsibilities.”

“One thing a lot of people underestimate is emotional intelligence. Unfortunately, it’s an invaluable skill in the workplace. I’ve worked with enough people to know that technical skills alone are rarely enough.

The people who stand out are the ones who receive feedback without becoming defensive. They’re the ones who know how to disagree respectfully, manage difficult conversations, and read the room without anyone needing to spell things out.

Emotional intelligence is what fosters healthy workplace relationships because, at the end of the day, everyone wants to work with someone who makes collaboration easier. Especially your boss.”

“Anyone can perform when everything is going well. What <a href="https://aura.ng/the-streets/so-you-have-a-degree-and-zero-job-offers-welcome-to-nigeria">employers</a> treasure is who stayed dependable when everyone else wasn't. They observe loyalty and consistency more than you realise.

Although they may never tell you, they notice the employee who rarely misses deadlines and keeps their word. Speaking for myself, the employees I trust the most are the ones I can rely on during difficult periods. And when promotion discussions come up, I’ll be sure to recommend them first because trust outweighs performance in my books.”

<b>Marketing Executive, Port Harcourt</b>

“When I first started my career as a marketing specialist, I thought my job was to impress everybody. But when that mindset eventually backfired, I was forced to learn one of the biggest lessons of my career. I learnt that the opinion that mattered most was my manager’s.

So, once I understood what approval looked like from her perspective, I stopped chasing other people's opinions and started focusing on innovations that actually moved the team’s goals forward. I realised that was all she cared for.

This understanding gave me so much clarity and direction. I also became more efficient because I understood what I was being measured on.

The moral of the story is to maintain good relationships with everyone but never at the expense of your employer. Because at the end of the day, your manager is the person evaluating your performance. So learn their priorities, and you’ll spend less time struggling to impress them.”

“People think networking only happens at workshops, AGMs, and conferences. But from my personal experiences, trust me when I say some of the most valuable networking happens in the office cafeteria.

This is why your good reputation shouldn’t end with your department. Some of the best opportunities I’ve received came because someone from another team trusted me enough to recommend me.&nbsp;

As much as possible, build genuine relationships with your colleagues. You can be professional and still be approachable. Remember people can only speak positively about you if they’ve had positive experiences with you.

And finally, adaptability has become one of the biggest career advantages today. Every company is constantly undergoing changes, and so, if you can’t adjust, you’ll eventually be left behind.

In case you didn’t know, as employers, we are always looking for ways to achieve more with fewer people. That is why to become indispensable, you must consistently contribute meaningfully to the <a href="https://aura.ng/the-streets/does-the-middle-class-in-nigeria-still-exist-">organisation’s</a> success. That’s the kind of employee people fight to keep.”

Want that promotion? Hard work alone won’t cut it. Here are some surprising truths about what really influences career success.



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