Making Sure You Get Credit That’s Due
A two-fer from SFGirl this week:
Hi Working Girl,
In my work it’s hard to be visible. No tangible/direct results–lots of inputting data and numbers. I’m visible in demonstrating knowledge/awareness of what’s happening in the industry. In the hallway if I run into my boss I’ll let him know I went to this forum about trade, and what I learned. I’ll bring in reports research think tanks will send me from these events. I come across as enthusiastic and knowledgeable–that’s clear.
Occasionally I’ll provide a sales lead to our sales rep from my networking efforts. I’ll go to an event and someone will want to know more about my company services. Recently I set up a meeting between this potential lead and sales rep. He’s still pursuing the lead and copied me and his boss on the email follow up. But my boss doesn’t know I facilitated this potential sale. If anything materializes and he makes the sale, how should I let my boss know? Would asking the salesperson to follow up, copy me on the email and my boss, be helpful?
Dear SFGirl,
Yes, you definitely should make sure your boss knows you are out promoting the company’s interests and–this is key–contributing to the bottom line. And you are right to think through the best way to go about this. As the Wicked Witch of the West said, “These things must be done delicately!” (Sorry, The Wizard of Oz was on the tube the other night.)
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking the salesperson to copy your boss, as well as you and his boss, on his status reports. If the salesperson doesn’t do this, for whatever reason, there’s also absolutely nothing wrong with you just forwarding his emails to your boss. All you have to say is “FYI” and hit Forward.
Or, you could reply to the salesperson’s email (”Great news! So glad it worked out!”) and cc your boss.
Your boss isn’t a mind reader. The only way he/she is going to know what’s going on is if you tell him/her. You don’t have to make a big deal of it. You’re just providing information.
And while you’re at it, don’t forget to put this referral in your “accomplishments” file. You do have an accomplishments file, don’t you? This can be an actual paper file or one on your desktop. Whenever you do anything worthy of note, be sure to write it up and put it in your file. This way at review time (or when you’re updating your resume), you will have a good record of all the good stuff you’ve done.
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