Nowadays, it seems like many employees at work really zone in on the job requirements of their position. Some employees will make sure that they stick within their job requirements and do not do much more. Others will work very hard at their job and excel in it. However, there is a minority group of employees who really step up and contribute in any way they can. If you want a chance to advance in your company, you will have to be a part of that latter group.
If you do your job and do it well, you will brand yourself into a person that is really good in that job. However, when it comes time to promote, the management team is looking for a leader and leaders typically need to be fully engaged in the company. They need to care about their job and role but also need to care about the business in its entirety.
What else am I supposed to do besides my job?
I think many people do not realize that while you were hired to do a job, it is also your responsibility to be a part of the company and to do whatever it takes for the company to be successful.
These are the top 10 things that I think are important for everyone to do at work. If you follow these guidelines you will stand out and will have the best opportunities to advance:
1) Always offer ideas and suggestions. Start with your own job and if you have a way it can be done more efficiently, suggest it. Even if your manager balks at it, keep making suggestions wherever you can.
2) Do not sit quietly in meetings. We have all been in meetings where there are people who talk and people who do not. Contribute any way you can and contribute on a high level. When management is in meetings with you, they take notice of the contributors. Leaders are not silent in meetings.
3) Do MORE than what your job requires. For example, if you work in customer service and someone needs help, go beyond offering “standard help”. Instead of saying to a customer, “call this number and they can help you”, do it for them! Customers like to compliment great service. It is a big deal when upper management or the President hears from customers and they are complimenting YOU.
4) Always offer to help others. Become the “go to” person- the person that can be counted on to help. If you are that person, it will go a long way!
5) Be proactive! Anticipate problems that might arise and come up with suggestions to fix them. Do not wait for things to happen and be a “reactive” employee. We all have had those moments where we know we could do more if we wanted to. When you have that moment, come up with a plan and do it (or share it with a supervisor).
6) Join committees and become a part of the company that goes far outside your role. Join a safety committee or a diversity committee or any other group where you feel you can make a great contribution.
7) Do things without being asked. If you see that something needs to be done and nobody is doing it, DO IT. Even if it is just cleaning up after a potluck lunch or helping with a company party. I am amazed by how few people do this. People who hang back and help out stand out.
8) Volunteer wherever you can. If someone sends an email out asking for volunteers – do it if you can. If someone sends out an email about a new initiative in the company, reply and say, “this sounds great! Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I would love to be a part of this!” Management loves this.
9) If you are part of a team, working on a project, take the lead if you can. Someone has to be the leader, shouldn’t it be you? If it is not you, still contribute at a high level. Throw out ideas and suggestions. Challenge things that do not make sense. If you do this respectfully, you will stand out. Once again, silence does not get you noticed, it gets you overlooked.
10) Never bad mouth the company to anyone you work with – even your friends. Talk it up and do your job as if you ARE a leader there. If you do not agree with something, ask questions. Running around badmouthing the company or complaining about your job is a cancer in the company. It will kill any opportunities to advance and may even kill your job.
When you are at work, always seek out ways to improve the company. Become a integral part of taking your company to the next level. If you show that your interest lies far beyond yourself, your job, and your income, you will be setting yourself up to become a future leader in the company.
