How to Become a “Fast Track” Employee

Have you wondered why some of your co-workers seem to be moving at high speed in management’s eyes, while others appear to be running in sand, getting nowhere? Just how do some employees hop on the fast track? Is it their choice or a result of management “natural selection”?

Rewards for Fast Track Employees

Do fast track employees hypnotize their superiors and co-workers? Have these employees developed some mysterious talent that remains hidden from their peers, but recognized by their superiors? Can you identify the traits, talents, or features that fast track employees possess?

Before we help unravel and explain the “mystery,” think about a co-worker who recently enjoyed a promotion or significant compensation increase. If the opportunity appears, simply ask your supervisor to relate the reasons for your co-worker’s selection. This brief conversation may yield a wealth of information.

The manager may quickly list a few key factors of which you may be unaware. File these reasons away for future reference. Conversely, your supervisor may display the “deer in the headlights” look or even express anger that you asked the question. This response indicates that your co-worker actually did, to a degree, “hypnotize” your supervisor. The employee infused some valuable traits into the fabric of your manager’s workplace psyche to generate positive feelings of accomplishment and project future success.

This subconscious or unconscious communication is subtle, but effective. While difficult to identify detailed specifics, there appears to be at least four traits or features that elevate employees to the fast track, while keeping other, equally talented people who lack these attributes on the slower route up the corporate ladder. If you want to jump on the fast track, consider these items and adopt those that will help you.

Adopt the Traits or Features of Fast Track Employees

Gary Vikesland, MA, LP, CEAP, writing for Employer-Employee.com, clearly and concisely explained the four primary features to help you reach the fast track in his article, “How to Hypnotize Your Supervisor.” Consider the following suggestions—and the process—to thrust you onto the fast track.

1. Build “rapport” with your supervisor and other managers, if possible. Often misunderstood, rapport indicates more than just getting along with your supervisor or discussing the football games from the prior weekend. You achieve professional rapport by “matching” your supervisor’s traits. From body posture to style to humor, you establish rapport when you infuse your manager’s traits and habits with your own. Why is this important? Be aware that decisions, personnel and otherwise, are often made, not on technical merit, but based on comfort and relationships. Supervisors who trust and feel confident of employees typically place them on the fast track to promotion.
2. Establish and exhibit “pace.” You should establish rapport before you move to pace. Mr. Vikesland defines pace as when “. . . communication changes from listening to agreeing to leading.” Leading a conversation indicates that you have value and important things to say. Pace allows you to create the perception that you are fast track material and perform at a notch above your co-workers.
3. Soft sell your current and future “value.” In subtle ways, present your skills and abilities as a “compelling outcome” that benefits your employer if you’re on the fast track. Establish your current value, while projecting even higher performance and contribution in the future. Once again, you should try to establish points 1 and 2 before entering this sphere of influence.
4. Learn to use “anchoring” to achieve final fast track status. While difficult before completing the former steps, anchoring plants positive thoughts, feelings, and ideas in your supervisor’s mind and memory. Successful fast track employees always leave subconscious positive emotions in their manager’s psyche after every task they complete. Subconscious impressions are often more important than conscious thoughts and typically lead to superior results for fast track employees.

If you enjoy your job and like your employer, try to create these traits and follow this process to reach the fast track. Should you attempt to follow this guide without success, you may want to consider seeking a new employer.

Using the top employment firms, like Kelly Services, and conducting a diligent online job search might generate new wonderful opportunities for you. Sometimes starting your personal quest for the fast track with a “clean slate” at a new employer achieves better results than combating pre-conceived ideas about you that your current employer has embraced.