Are you struggling at work right now and have no idea what to do? - Dan Schawbel (yourlifeyourway.net) Hands up if you’re bored with your job and feeling lethargic! Well, you know what? You’re not alone. The economy has really changed and most people haven’t quite adjusted to the new reality. There’s no longer a linear career path.. no employer is going to take care of you. It’s YOU who has to take charge and make things happen. How exactly do you do that in the workplace? How do you succeed in the face of uncertainty and move ahead? Here are five tips to help you gain more confidence, promote yourself effectively, and take your career to the next level: 1. Know yourself. In order to be your best self at work, you have to have a grasp on what your strengths and passions are. If you are true to yourself and know your limits, then it’s easier to position yourself for success. If you don’t think about what you bring to the table, then you don’t get a seat there. Don’t try to copy someone else or you will end up building the wrong type of reputation – being yourself is the only thing that is sustainable anyways. 2. Have an entrepreneur mindset. In a recent study, we found that 90% of people view entrepreneurship as a mindset instead of the role of a business owner. You need to be able to sell yourself, your ideas, and take risks in your career – or you won’t get very far. Always look for ways to improve processes or products at your company and seek opportunities that your company isn’t paying attention to as much. This way, you will be seen as a thought leader at your organisation, an innovator at the forefront, and get promoted faster. 3. Help your manager succeed. ”You can get everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” - Zig Ziglar, Secrets of Closing the Sale. If you make your manager look good, you’ll be amply rewarded with networking and promotion opportunities. They hold the keys to your success so instead of being selfish with your career, work as hard as you can for them so when they rise up, they will take you with them. One way you can help your manager is by taking on additional work outside of your job description. Another way is by doing work that they don’t want to do, even if they don’t assign it to you directly. 4. What you do outside of work matters. Just because you leave your office doesn’t mean you can’t do activities that will help you be more successful at work. Become a member of an industry association, attend conferences and go to social events with co-workers so that you can learn, develop relationships and have more to talk about at the office. 5. Develop your soft skills. Managers, and even recruiters, value soft skills over hard skills. 61% of managers believe that soft skills are most important. These are intangible, but crucial to career success. Skills like interpersonal communication, the ability to prioritize work, handle conflicts and having a positive attitude go a LONG way in today’s working environment. Put yourself into as many situations as you can where you can practice your soft skills, get feedback and improve.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Sep 2013 02:10:37 +0000
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