"Do People Seek Me Out?"; Your Most Important Career Question
In the hustle and bustle of career development, we often focus on acquiring skills, networking, or chasing the next promotion. But one crucial question often goes overlooked: “Do people seek me out?” This question isn’t just a matter of ego or popularity—it’s a litmus test for your professional value and influence.
Being sought out is more than just people knowing your name or remembering your face. It’s about being perceived as a valuable resource—someone whose expertise, judgment, or work ethic stands out in a sea of professionals. When people consistently turn to you for advice, solutions, or opportunities, it indicates that you are regarded as an expert or a go-to person.
This isn’t something that happens overnight. It requires building trust, showcasing competence, and delivering consistent results. People don’t seek out someone because of a fancy title or a stellar resume alone—they look for individuals who have shown they can help.
In hospitality, where relationships and service are the lifeblood of the industry, being sought out has even greater importance. Whether you’re in front-of-house or a back-office role, your ability to add value to guests, colleagues, and superiors plays a significant role in shaping your career trajectory.
Consider the concierge who’s sought out for their unparalleled local knowledge, the banquet manager whose meticulous planning ensures flawless events, or the HR manager who’s the first port of call for conflict resolution. When your reputation for adding value precedes you, it elevates you from being just another employee to a trusted advisor.
Being sought out reflects not just what you do, but how you do it. It’s about demonstrating thought leadership, emotional intelligence, and a genuine desire to help others succeed. In a competitive field like hospitality, your ability to connect and contribute could be the factor that sets you apart from the rest.
Examples
1. The Fixer: Think about the maintenance engineer who everyone calls when things go wrong. Not because he’s the only one available, but because he’s the one who will find a solution quickly and efficiently—his reputation as the “fixer” ensures he is always sought out for critical issues.
2. The Mentor: Imagine a senior chef who goes out of their way to coach younger staff. Even those from other departments approach them for career advice because they know that chef’s insights go beyond the kitchen.
Five Steps to Becoming the Person People Seek Out
1. Identify Your Strengths and Interests
Start by assessing what you’re genuinely good at and what you enjoy doing. Reflect on past experiences where you’ve been able to add value, solve a problem, or impress others with your approach. Identify one or two specific areas where your strengths align with the needs of your team or department. This alignment will be your foundation for becoming the person others turn to for help.
2. Solve Recurring Problems
Pay attention to challenges that come up frequently in your workplace—whether it’s a bottleneck in a process, a technical issue, or a common guest complaint. Choose one of these problems and work on finding an effective solution. When you solve something that affects everyone, it not only demonstrates your initiative but also positions you as a problem-solver who makes a tangible impact.
3. Volunteer for Challenging Tasks
Step up and take on tasks that others shy away from. Whether it’s leading a complex project, handling a demanding client, or addressing a service issue, embracing challenges signals to others that you’re reliable and unafraid of difficult situations. When people see you as someone who gets things done, they will naturally begin to seek you out.
4. Be a Resource for Your Colleagues
Offer your time and knowledge to help others succeed. Whether it’s mentoring a junior team member, sharing useful insights in meetings, or simply being available for a quick consult, being generous with your expertise makes you a valuable resource. The more you help others grow and improve, the more they’ll view you as a key person to approach for advice.
5. Build a Reputation for Consistency and Follow-Through
Consistently deliver quality work and follow through on your commitments. Even if a task seems small, doing it well builds trust in your abilities. When people know they can rely on you to meet deadlines, keep promises, and maintain high standards, you’ll naturally become the person they reach out to when something important is on the line.