We talk almost exclusively about family here and when we mention work, it’s usually in the context of spending more time at home and less at the office. That being said, your career is very important, not only to provide financially for your family but to be a positive influence in the community. Leadership, both at home and at work, is what men are called to exhibit.
However, a strategy is in order if you want to get the job done, so to speak. Getting ahead requires dedication, selflessness, creativity, and patience—all the reasons you were hired on to begin with. Never lose sight of the fact that you were employed to benefit your job and move the company forward, not the other way around. Here are 10 ways to get promoted at work.
1. Work hard.
Sounds like a no-brainer, right? But it’s not. “Getting by” has become so widely accepted that mediocrity is almost the new normal. Stepping it up a notch is not only the right thing to do, but it’ll get you noticed and more than likely, promoted.
2. Work smart.
In golf, the biggest hitters generally don’t win. Instead, it’s the guy who puts the ball in the fairway. First order of business at work: Keep the ball in the fairway. Work on your efficiency. Focus on the things that are most important first and then move on to the others.
3. Work better.
Pay attention. Keep your eyes open. Learn from those around you. Find someone who is successful and watch what they do and how they spend their time.
A workplace ethic defined by integrity gives confidence to everyone you work with and for.4. Work with integrity.
Honesty is not optional. Owning your faults is never a mistake. A workplace ethic defined by integrity gives confidence to everyone you work with and for.
5. Work with imagination.
If you want to get promoted, then don’t be afraid to go out on a limb occasionally. Don’t bet the farm or put your team at risk, but do color outside the lines once in a while. It’s one thing to show you can carry a lot of cheese but it’s something more to show you’re not restricted to the same tedious maze.
6. Show up.
It may be a cliché, but “being there is half the battle” turns out to be true. This doesn’t mean just physically. Maintain a mental focus throughout the day. When you find yourself drifting, take a quick walk and get the blood pumping. Then refocus and get back to work. Organizations bank on people they can count on physically and mentally.
7. Give credit to others.
Never be afraid to point out the success of a colleague. When integrity is the watchword, it’s not about you—it’s about what’s right.
8. Be a leader.
Maybe you’re the best at what you do, but how do you make the others look? Remember Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls? MJ didn’t just soar; he also led in assists. He made his teammates look like winners and so they were.
9. Give respect.
The best way to earn the respect of the people you will one day supervise is to give them respect now. The best workplace politics move horizontally, not vertically.
10. Train the people around you to do your job.
If you make yourself completely indispensable, it becomes too much of a risk to move you up. You’ll always stay where you are.
Sound off: Is there anything you would add to the list?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “Where have you experienced the most success? Why do you think you were successful?”