Instead, Smith says you should find out what roles you can play to make a greater contribution to the company’s objectives. Always present yourself to managers and senior executives as an ally, not a competitor. And by all means, follow through. At the same time, you should set quarterly performance goals for yourself. “When times are tough,†Smith says, “senior executives value those professionals who can deliver the most value in the shortest time frame.â€
–Additional reporting by Stacy Gilliam, Sonya Donaldson & Steve Garmhausen