Doing a good job does not always guarantee success and there are plenty of good employees who put in overtime to finish a job or deliver good customer service that are passed over for promotions. It takes more than doing a good job to rise to the next level — it takes understanding of what corporations look for in helping advance your career. Working smarter is not necessarily working harder; it’s applying what counts to your employer.
It is a misinterpretation to equate success with manipulating your boss, telling them what they want to hear and throwing your colleagues under the bus. Those behaviors will last only for a short time and, in the end, will lose their staying power.
Succeeding in your job for the long run requires using problem-solving skills and seeking out new tasks that are unfamiliar to you. It’s an attitude that involves stretching your skills and taking risks in order to gain new ones.
Aim for being exposed to senior management or those at a higher level than you. The more you develop a perception of being a problem-solver, the more attention you will attract. Being a good employee is not enough in today’s marketplace. In order to succeed, you need to position yourself as a contributor in what matters to the company.
Focus on being an employee with a broad range of skills that can adapt to changing circumstances. Relying on one of your strengths to take you to the next level is like having a one-trick pony — it’s not effective in today’s market.
You have to be willing to move to opportunities even if the timing in your life is not perfect. Most career opportunities seem to fall right in the middle of busy times, such as the middle of a school year or while caring for older parents.
Think in terms of business development and how to increase revenue for your employer. What ways could you bring in new customers and help broaden potential sales? In today’s business, everyone is in sales, and being successful means understanding your employer’s agenda, issues faced and concerns that your boss faces.
Take the initiative to learn and you will be seen as an employee who is worth retaining. Doing a good job is admirable, but it won’t get you to your next promotion.
What has led to your success in being promoted?
