It’s a good time to think about your references

Article about how important your referees are!

When I was growing up, if I ever worried about what people thought of me, my  father would say: “If you can please 50pc of the people 50pc of the  time, you are doing better than most.”

Although in academic circles the debate continues about the accuracy of  references as an assessment tool, there is little doubt in my mind that when  it comes to building a successful career, strong reference champions are  crucial.

In Greek mythology, Achilles was a single champion in the Greek army’s war  against the Trojans. He was one in a whole army of Greeks who singularly,  for his king, would turn the tide of battles.
The same can be said for building a successful career. The key is found in the  small number of champions you nurture along the way.
This is not about mentors but rather individuals who will speak highly of you  when asked what they think. They will be individuals who are well respected,  well connected and hold a position in your particular field that implies success.

The stronger their personal brand, the better yours is by association. In  other words: when you give them as a reference, some of their career  success, their shine, rubs off on you. Therefore, go for gold and not bronze  in the champions you align yourself with.

Don’t limit your reference names to your immediate boss. Apply a 360-degree  approach to sourcing champions. Find suppliers, clients, peers, and team  members who will speak positively about you.

Think about your next career step, now. Start thinking about who in your  current circle of contacts would be a powerful reference for the next role.  Start looking for ways to work with them, build a relationship with them and  impress them. Don’t settle for your immediate surroundings – aim high. Does  the chief executive know who and how good you are?
Don’t overuse them. When you are looking for a new role and an agent asks for  reference names, provide them sparingly and for goodness sake don’t list  them on your CV. If they get called continuously, by various people, those  once golden words will quickly tarnish.

Trying to please everyone all of the time, leads to career obscurity. You need  only a few champions per role to secure your long-term career prospects.

THE GOLDEN RULES
• Find your champions wherever you can. Don’t limit your search to your  immediate boss.
• Start sourcing your champions now and align yourself with the most  successful people you can find.
• Don’t burn them out. Allow them to be contacted as little as possible, so  that they have only the best to say about you.