Negotiating Essential To Your Career

A recent newspaper article talked about the importance of 'negotiating' relationships inside your own organization. Getting promoted may depend upon your ability to negotiate internal relationships.

Telecommuters may go nowhere – career wise.
(Los Angeles Times – January 17, 2007)

Maybe Woody Allen was right, that 80% of life really is just about showing up. At least that's what most executives seem to think about people who work from home. Telecommuters are less likely to get promoted than peers who head into the office every day, according to a global survey of 1,300 executives. (Conducted by Los Angeles-based executive search firm Korn/Ferry International.)

Executives are concerned about promoting a hardcore telecommuter to a management position in which face time with employees is essential. . . 61% dinged telecommuters as being poorer bets for advancement.

If you're not cultivating the right network of people, you won't move up in any setting, whether you're telecommuting or not," said Jennifer Allyn, a human resource manager for accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, which allows many employees to telecommute. But she and other executives recognize the pitfalls for workers, offering materials to help telecommuters and employees who travel frequently to maintain strong office relationships.

Employees are quick to cite the advantages of their home office routine, including no time lost to commuting, the ability to work in pajamas and bedroom slippers, and quieter surroundings. Human resource managers say telecommuting and other work-life programs cut turnover and improve productivity.

The findings of this study speak to a "general fear" that workers who have the boss's ear in the office will get promoted ahead of an off-site colleague who is doing better work. So if you are a telecommuter, beware. Find ways to regularly interact and negotiate with others in your organization. Use these opportunities to develop your relationships. Your career could depend on it!