I am someone who has “climbed the ladder” at a few different jobs. I have held many management and supervisory positions. I have my own secrets of how to get to be the star employee, and I want to share some with you. Some of them were things that were not even in my nature to do, and I often had to re-adjust my game plan! So I am passing on my words of wisdom to see if some of this can help you in your job on the way to the top. Some of them sound very simple, but trust me; when people follow some of these rules, they get to where they want to be.
Take the projects that no one else wants.
This is first because I believe it got me to the top a couple of times. Be the one who will take on special projects and jobs that no one else will take (even if you do not want to do them!). When you do a project like this successfully, your boss is likely to give you jobs that you really want. Also, it is the little projects like this that pop up as great answers to questions in job interviews!
Be the one who supports company changes, not the one who challenges it.
Change is essential for companies. Most changes are made to save time or money for the company. Be the one who embraces a new project. If leadership sees you as a leader when they make some of these changes, they will think of you as a leader for other positions that may come up.
Network baby!
Say “hello” or strike up a conversation with people that you normally would not talk to. You never know when you will meet that person again and you are that much closer to knowing them when you do. Learn people’s names and remember things about them. But be sure to be genuine, because people can spot a fake from miles away.
Come a little early and leave a little late.
I’m not talking hours – I am talking minutes. It may sound very simple, but this way you are ready to start your day off on the right foot. Get your coffee, bathroom break, and your conversations with co-workers done before you are scheduled to start.
Examine your reactions.
A little bit of optimism goes a long way. When I was selected for a special project I noticed that all the others selected had one thing in common: they were all optimists. Instead of complaining about something at work, be the one who does something about it.
Embrace “kaizan!”
Kaizan is a program that is being adopted by multiple companies. It means continual improvement. Continually try to improve yourself at the job, the job itself and the company. If something is not working well, try to come up with a solution to improve it.
Dress to impress.
Of course you knew this one would come up. But I am not talking a drastic wardrobe change. Just strive to dress a little more professionally than “the norm.” When you look good, you feel good and your mind is focused on the business. Not only that, but it helps get you noticed!
Working hard is not going to get you to the top alone. Working smartly is. Working smartly is the right combination of many aspects of the job including attitude, knowledge and the willingness to be there. Embrace them all and you will go far!
Invest all the bonuses you receive into a savings accounts. A solid savings account can help build your credit.
