If you don’t feel as though you are performing well in your career, then you will know upsetting this can be. Your future may be in jeopardy and you may even feel as though a huge change needs to be made. You’ll be glad to know that it is more than possible for you to take charge here so that you can perform better in your career and even feel better about yourself too.
1. Know the Needs of your Department
The first thing that you need to do is know the needs of your department. Take on tasks that your leader may not oversee and take the initiative. You need to show your boss that you are able to handle any task proactively and that everything is not going to fall solely on their shoulders.
Of course, if you find it hard to use your own initiative then take a moment to see what your boss is struggling with. You can then jump in to help them with any task, and this will tell them that you are serious about your job.
2. Get to Know your Boss
Your boss is essentially the person who controls your destiny. For this reason, it is important that you get to know them and that you also understand how they work professionally. When you do this, you can then begin to know what annoys them and what they look for in a good employee.
You don’t have to be friends with them, and you don’t have to hang out with them either, but it doesn’t take a lot of effort to communicate with them.
3. Assume Success
If you have a positive attitude then this can be seen in your facial expression, the speed of your voice, your posture and even your tone. It’s so important that you know that everything you do contributes towards your bottom line.
Even when things are challenging at work, you can use this to empower yourself and then contribute to your own success. Every challenge that comes your way is a learning curve, so embrace it and know that with hard work, you will be able to assume a much higher level of success.
4. Study your Industry
Your industry is constantly changing, and so is your working environment. For this reason, you need to keep up to date with what is happening right now. You need to discuss recent company events with the people that you work with and you also need to talk about changes with your supervisors as well.
Information is power at the end of the day, and the more you can use this to your advantage, the better. By understanding industry changes, you can also become a much better employee to your company and you can also seem like a much harder worker. If you work in education then it is a good idea to look into some teacher blogs so you can learn everything you need to know.
5. Always bring a Solution to the Table
Offering a solution is only half the equation. A lot of managers feel as though an action plan will only create more work for them. For this reason, you need to share your ideas with context and you also need to have a clear path for implementation too.
The leader can then evaluate the plan and you also take half of the work out of it for them. This will encourage leadership to rely on you more, and it also makes you a more viable option for any future projects.
6. Get a Mentor
Everyone needs someone who can teach them the ropes. If you can, you should find someone who you respect, and who you want to learn from. You don’t need to ask them to be your mentor at all, you just need to try and keep as many communication lines open as possible. Ask them to go out for lunch, talk about the work that they have done and even find out what non-work-related interests they have.
By building these kinds of connections, you can be sure to really count on them to help you when you need it and you can also expand your own career horizons as a result.
7. Communication
One of the most common mistakes that people make is that they are afraid to talk about underlying issues. They are afraid of the confrontation that comes with it and this can become overwhelming. This is understandable, but it is so important that you are able to work through conflict. When you do this, you will become a better worker and you will also reduce your stress as a result.
If you do not communicate well then this can lead to stress, frustration, and arguments in the workplace, which will not do anything for your career.
8. Work Smarter
You may be working as hard as you can, and this is great because it shows that you are valuable to the company. If you aren’t able to get everything done however then you need to try and work smarter instead. You need to invest in technology and even in new forms of organization. When you do this, you will be able to do each and every job faster, and your management will certainly pick up on this.
You don’t have to wait for your company to invest in things like this either, because it is more than possible to take initiative and do it yourself. Your team and your boss will appreciate you for it, and they will also more than likely follow in your footsteps.
9. Don’t Overwork
If you are constantly tired, or if your friends refer to you as being a workaholic then this is a sign that you need to slow down. You also need to break the habit of setting unrealistic goals for yourself. Sure you might set your targets high and this is great because you will be constantly motivated to achieve them, but at some point, you are going to have to recalibrate.
Lower your goals and take a back step from time to time. This will give you the chance to come back to the project with a fresh perspective and it will also help you to deal with any pressure that you might be under.
10. Volunteer
The more you can help your company, the better. If you get the chance to volunteer then you most certainly should. Sure, you probably won’t get paid for it and you may even find that it takes up a ton of your day, but your managers will see how hard you work, and they will also be able to give you some extra support if you need it.
Volunteering can work wonders for your CV as well because it shows that you have a good work ethic.
11. The Bigger Picture
There are so many employees who really only care about what they are doing. This stops them from being able to see the bigger picture.
You have to remember that you are one piece of the puzzle, and by doing this you can then begin to get a bigger and better understanding of what you are trying to achieve.
12. Invest in your Learning Abilities
A lot of companies work hard to make sure that their employees keep on investing in themselves, and they also like to encourage them to go back to school as well. They believe that this makes them do their job better, and this is very true.
It doesn’t hurt to take part in a training course that is being offered, and it also helps them to become more knowledgeable about the industry that they are working in.
13. Ask All of the Right Questions
You need to make sure that you always ask the right questions. Think about what you want to know and then craft a question that will give you the answers you need.
There is a high chance that your boss or any other professional won’t have time to answer a set of 10 questions, so take your time and make sure that you are asking ones that really matter. This will help you to you become a better employee and it will also help you to find out how to progress your career.
14. Commitments
As an employee, it is so important that you follow through on any commitments. You need to do this on time and in a professional manner. You really want the people who you work with and even your boss to trust in you, and you also need them to understand the value that you bring to the organization. Don’t tell someone that you can handle a task if you know that you are not going to have time. Saying no is far better than letting someone down, so this is very important for you to keep in mind.
Of course, there are many ways that you can benefit yourself and those around you by following the above tips. When you put them into action, you will soon find that it is easier than ever before for you to boost your job performance.
