Despite all the advice out there about controlling, picking or changing your career, do you ever feel that at the end of the day you may not have much control over it? That the pressure to gain a paycheck, advance in rank and find your professional place keeps blowing you left and right on the winds of Chance, your boss’ s moods or what is needed today?

Take my friend S. for instance. She was taken off a project she had worked so hard on for three months. She was needed to finish another project on behalf of another colleague who was not available to complete it. The other assignment was in an area S. had very little interest in, while the one she had been taken off of was a high-profile assignment in an area she was hoping to specialize in. At the end of the day, she felt she had no control over which assignments she was put on, and over the direction of her career altogether. Which in turn made her disengage at work and feel less motivated and driven.

According to this January 2015 Gallup poll, the majority of US employees are disengaged at work. That means less than 1/3 of all US workers were engaged in their jobs in 2014. Let’s not even talk about what that translates into in terms of dips in productivity and spikes in chocolate-covered strawberries…But I digress…

Typical? Yes.

Usual? Heck yes.

Unavoidable? No.

Take Beyonce for instance. Yes, the Queen Bey, that one! The woman has built a steely career while still “running the world” and staying up “all night”, but we won’t go there…But what’s even more impressive is that unlike many artists in the business, she controls her musical career from the way she sounds to the way she looks, to the type of public and private presentations she wants to make…

And unlike my friend S. she has a pretty strong say in the path she wants to chart for herself, even as said path is pretty crowded and not as fair as we may all want it to be…

I know what you’re thinking: Could we compare apples with apples here? Beyonce’s probably somewhere tanning on her yacht across the Mediterranean, while some of us are trying to close this month’s books and refrain from spitting bad words to the computer screen. Ok, I get it…

Even if some of us are not exactly sailing across the Mediterranean right now or planning their next mega-million album deal, for most of us, taking back control of our careers and reclaiming our own professional power is much needed. Why spend so much time at work if we feel lost, disengaged and frankly over our last bag of chocolate-covered strawberries?

And since there’s no harm in “faking it ‘til we make it”, here are 7 power tips taken straight from the Queen’s career book into our careers:

1. If you don’t ask for it, you won’t get it! The Queen’s Team knew to ask for Facebook support to release her much-acclaimed 2013 self-titled album. Likewise, taking your career to the top also requires you to make the ask! Whether it’s volunteering for a new assignment, requesting to become part of a work group, or simply asking for more time to better complete a project, you won’t get it unless you ask!
2. Know and speak your value! The only reason Beyonce will close a deal, is if it’s beneficial to… her! Case in point, her deal with Pepsi included an agreement from the company to promote her Superbowl half-time show and reserve money she could use on her own creative endeavors. How’s that for a good deal? In your career as well, make decisions and agree to contracts, offers and arrangements that benefit you!
3. Set and share goals! Her 2013 mega-album release was done to accomplish three clear goals: no leak was allowed, every song would have a video, and both fans and critics would have access to it at the same. In the same way, your career goals, whether short or long-term, should have specific, measurable, and realistic goals as well.
4. Don’t let others walk all over you. Not everyone is going to like, or support your career’s direction. Although big name retailers like Amazon and Target refused to carry her album back in 2013, the Queen still chose to upheld her own plan. In other words, get ready for some serious opposition as you climb the corporate ladder. However, realize and understand that in order for your career plans to materialize, you will have to stand your ground!
5. Don’t be afraid to experiment and diversify, but always know your strengths! From movie roles to endorsements and various other projects, Beyonce know how to experiment with diverse areas of the business. Likewise, nothing prevents you from expanding your scope of knowledge and involvement career-wise. However, remember to take with you and apply your strengths to any project you may be involved in. That’s your brand!
6. Stay humble! What an inspiring moment at the 2009 VMA Awards when the Queen was up against Taylor Swift, who ended up winning! Despite Kanye Wests’ rumbling and public disapproval, Beyonce remained gracious and even offered Taylor Swift the opportunity to give the acceptance speech she wasn’t able to complete due to Kanye’s interruption. In your career as well, always remain humble and poised, and show graciousness to others no matter what.
7. Be competent and work hard! As cliché as it may sound, there really is no substitute for hard word. The Queen has shown us over and over her dedication to a flawless end product, whether it’s a video, song, or movie. In your career, cultivate excelling competence and also only offer your best product!

Which one of these tips have you been applying in your own career book? Which ones would you like to add?

Love,

The corporate sis.