Okay, I confess.  I’ve been hooked on Dancing with the Stars.  I started watching this season because over the summer, while on a Southwest Airlines flight from San Francisco to Chicago, I met one of the professional contestants, Mark Ballas. 

It was especially interesting that I met Mark, because he and his celebrity partner, Disney star Sabrina Bryan, were robbed of title midway through the competition.  They were clearly the best dancers and had the best all-around scores from the judges, but a lack of fan support sent them packing way too early.

Marie Osmond, meanwhile, made it to the finals despite being a noticeably inferior dancer.  Knowing she already captured a huge segment of Dancing’s older, female audience, Marie capitalized on this by sending out vote request e-mails to her massive distribution lists and planning routines she knew would appeal to her target. 

This outcome echoes what I’ve been telling young professionals for years about the importance of being perceived well at work.  You could be the smartest, most talented, most dedicated employee in the world, but if people don’t like you, or are not consistently reminded of the value you bring to the organization, you won’t get anywhere. 

I certainly learned this lesson the hard way, when, early in my career as a public relations executive, I watched people with half my work-ethic out-advance me time and time again.  Eventually, I digested the true importance of establishing positive relationships in the workplace that would ensure I received credit where credit was due.  I suspect that now, Mark and Sabrina will as well.