As Abraham Lincoln once said, âThe best way to predict the future is to create it.â If you want to advance your career but donât know where to start, here are some things you can do to get promoted at work.
By Michele Reynolds
Rule number one for being a good employee is to always be on time and ready to go. Even if you work in a culture that runs behind schedule, itâs better to be on timeâor even earlyâeach day and to every meeting.
If youâre leading the meeting, show up with an agenda and be an active timekeeper. Itâs a sign that youâre organized, respect peopleâs time, and serve as a role model to peers. At the end of the meeting, give a quick recap and identify next steps.
- Solve Problems, Donât Just Identify Them
One of the best ways to stand out as a budding leaderâregardless of your current roleâis to be self-sufficient and demonstrate solid judgment. Doing so wonât just set you apart as a critical asset to your team but also serve as a tactic to further develop your leadership skills. A helpful mantra is, âBe a problem solver, not a problem identifier.â
When you raise an issue to your boss, also propose a solution. Busy leaders often get bogged down by solving every problem their team faces. Do your boss a favor and find workarounds rather than just surface issues.
- Respect Your Bossâs Time
Be considerate of your bossâs time. Before asking for help, consider the level of urgency and try solving the problemâor at least brainstorm a plan of action to run by your manager. Making an attempt first will demonstrate you know how to take initiative.
For things that require your bossâs intervention but arenât time-sensitive, keep a running list of items to discuss. Ask if you can get some time on your managerâs calendar and outline what youâd like to discuss in your meeting invite so you both come prepared.
- Donât Be a Squeaky Wheel
Perhaps most important is a can-do attitude. Anything you can do to minimize your bossâs workload will likely benefit you in the long run. You can help by volunteering to take on something new or brainstorm solutions when a crisis pops up.
Baseball great Wade Boggs once said, âA positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. Itâs a catalyst, and it sparks extraordinary results.â
So, whatever you do, donât be a whiner. Even if youâre feeling stressed, save your venting for a friend and present a positive front to your boss.
Earn trust by keeping information about confidential or sensitive subjects to yourself. Beyond that, donât gossip or backstab at the water cooler. By being a stand-up employee, youâll earn trust and respect.
Staying organized and moving quickly can make you, and your boss, look good. But donât move too fast. Getting things done efficiently is important, but quality matters, too.
Ensure your work represents your company well. If you take on additional responsibilities, confirm they align with whatâs expected of you. Your work reflects on your boss, so make sure theyâre proud of you and your product.
It may seem counterintuitive, but asking your boss for advice can yield dividends. According to research (pdf) by Harvard Business School Professor Alison Wood-Brooks, âIndividuals perceive those who seek advice as more competent than those who do not.â
Timed right, asking your boss for guidance can work to your advantage.
As Aristotle said, âThereâs only one way to avoid criticism: Do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.â Since youâre reading this article, you clearly want to stand out, so speak up.
Confidently sharing your views and expertise in conversations or meetings allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. You can also make an impression on your colleagues and superiors.
Being a strong communicator is more than what you say. How you say itâboth in your body language and tone of voiceâmay matter more than the words themselves.
Albert Mehrabian, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an expert in nonverbal communication, proved through his research that what you say is negligible compared to how you say it. Body language and inflection matter more.
âNonverbal elements are particularly important for communicating feelings and attitude, especially when theyâre incongruent: If words and body language disagree, one tends to believe the body language,â Mehrabian told the site Right Attitudes.
That said, you can look like a leader through confident body language, such as your posture, stance, handshake, eye contact, and smile.
What else can you do to propel your career growth? If you want to sharpen your skills but donât have the time or resources to go back to school full- or even part-time, consider taking an online course.
According to HBS Professor Das Narayandas, thereâs a plethora of options that can benefit you and your employer.
As Narayandas said to the
Harvard Business Review, âThe good news is that the growing assortment of online courses, social and interactive platforms, and learning tools from both traditional institutions and upstartsâ¦offers a solution. [Theyâre] flexible and immediately accessible, and it enables employees to pick up skills in the context in which they must be used. In effect, itâs a 21st-century form of on-the-job training.â
There are many affordable online business courses that can work around your schedule. Your employer might even cover the cost.
One to consider is Leadership Principles. It features interactive exercises to help you if youâre an early- or mid-career professional preparing for a leadership role.
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