Justin Trudeau is Canada’s 23^rd Prime Minister and not a lot of people picked him to win the election let alone crush the Conservatives with a convincing victory. The campaign and its outcomes are chock full of powerful professional lessons. Here are three career lessons from Justin Trudeau’s election win:

Zig when everyone zags

Trudeau’s opponents (and even some of his fellow party members) underestimated his abilities as a political leader. One conservative pundit famously said Trudeau would win the debate if he managed to “come on stage with his pants on”. In the end, the narrative for the young leader was always the same: he wasn’t ready for the job and a lot of people were uncertain that he’d rise to the occasion. To use a client-management cliché, Justin Trudeau under-promised and over delivered in a big way. In your career, such a narrative can be equally handy. While you don’t want to be totally ignored and passed over for perceived lack of ability, it’s always helpful to manage expectations early on. Keeping them low and then over-delivering will make you a legend in your workplace in the best possible way.

Differentiate yourself

Developing a personal brand is important. It’s what sets you apart from others and puts you top of mind when people are thinking about who they want to work with, to lead the next project or to hire for their next job. Trudeau effectively developed a personal (and party) brand focused on renewed hope, optimism and policy planks that specifically differentiated his team. His positive (some might argue utopian) vision for Canada and what could be done to significantly shift the country’s federal government if elected became a hallmark which further set the Liberal leader apart from some of his counterparts. This lesson is instructive for anyone seeking to stand out from the crowd. You might stand out through your volunteer work, your thought leadership, your online presence, your “get the job done no matter what” style, your personality or your unique work ethic. There’s a multiplicity of ways you can stand out – so pick your own special flavour and get to work.

Be positive

One of the constant criticisms of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper was the perception that he wasn’t a “nice guy” and that he had a knack for scaring people. Indeed, his office came to be personified by perceptions of control, mean spirted politics and an almost sinister lack of transparency. Trudeau, whether it was spin or not, came across in a distinctly more positive light. Whether it was his interaction and engagement with fans and average citizens (this post-victory hand-shake-athon in Montreal’s subway) or his decision to scold party members who were heckling the media for asking a hard question, our new Prime Minister’s general “niceness” is something that seems to have helped his cause. Same can be said for your career. People like to help likable people. This means avoid being rude to anyone (no matter whether they’re your boss or the new intern starting at your organization) and always practice respect and thoughtfulness when interacting with colleagues. It isn’t only good for community, but also good for your career.

Bonus reason: Experience isn’t everything

Here’s a great tip from blog Career Joy. As you probably saw throughout the election, the NDP and Conservative campaigns (especially the conservative campaign) were critical of Trudeau and his “lack of experience”. They pointed to his career experience and tried to brand him as “just not ready” in advertisements, debates and stump speeches. Despite these critiques, in the end voters decided that while Trudeau might not have as much political/government experience as the other candidates, the qualities he brought to the table and vision for change outweighed these perceived deficits. This lesson is just as important in your career – particularly when you’re applying for the next great opportunity. Employers generally aren’t just looking for the most experienced but a wide range of other attributes ranging from your online brand, collaboration abilities, work ethic, transferable skills, energy and outlook. If you see a gap in one area (such as experience) make sure to highlight and champion the others.