Performance, image and exposure
THROUGHOUT our growing years, we’re constantly reminded to work hard and obey rules. Only then, will success come our way. Unfortunately, this advice doesn’t always work well for some people. Despite delivering on their key performance indicators (KPI) year after year, many employees continue to find themselves not moving ahead as much as they think they should.
Does this sound familiar? Has it ever happened to you? Then, you need to know about P.I.E. Theory of Success. When I was working with a multinational corporation, my boss always reminded me to “bake a good pie” for success.
Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t working in the F&B industry. “PIE”, the acronym for performance, image and exposure, was first proposed by Harvey J. Coleman, author of Empowering Yourself, The Organisational Game Revealed.
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
In today’s competitive world, just delivering on our KPIs is no longer enough. Everyone’s doing it better, faster, cheaper and more. Besides working hard, we must also be working smart.
Our KPI should be thoroughly discussed with our manager. It needs to be specific and measurable. More importantly, we should make it challenging with some elements of a breakthrough. This will ensure that we always strive to go beyond our ordinary expectations.
A POSITIVE IMAGE
Unfortunately, even performing above expectation is only a fraction of the equation. We also need a positive image. How do we know what people perceive us as? One test is to predict their reaction when they mention your name.
If your name is accompanied by a genuine smile, chances are your image is positive. You may be seen as a trustworthy, dependable, resourceful and responsible person. You get things done and you deliver on your promises.
In contrast, when the mere mention of our name elicits a frown, we should be worried. That could mean we’re viewed in a negative light by others. This could be due to our own doing, such as not delivering on promises or by making other people’s lives difficult. Oftentimes, we may not even know about it.
The good news is, we can change our negative image — slowly but surely. We just have to be mindful when dealing with others. Strive to do the right thing even if it’s difficult. Aim to change the “being difficult” to “being helpful”.
At the same time, don’t forget about our physical image.
MANAGE YOUR EXPOSURE
Perhaps the most critical element of P.I.E. is the exposure. All our good work is meaningless if no one knows about it. Even worse, we’re not well known to the right people. This is akin to being “viral” on social media.
Unlike our Western counterparts, Asians aren’t great at blowing their own trumpet. We’re raised to be humble and not brag about ourselves. That’s generally good but when it comes to professional achievements, we must strike the right balance between sharing and humility. Think about it: your good work may be useful to others. It may be the one solution they’re looking for.
Put together, the P.I.E. brings the right balance for a career success. Coupled with humility and good attitude, you should see positive responses from those around you. Give it some time and the “pie” will bake into something delicious.