Why Some People Always Succeed At Work
Some
people always seem to get faster promotions, make more money and generally
stand out on the job, in any economy. Why is that? While
there’s no one thing that will guarantee career success for everyone,
there are three things you can start doing today to make yourself
more valuable -- to any employer, in any industry. Here they are …
1. Add Value “Adding
value is the single most powerful personal attribute you can possess,”
says Les McKeown, President & CEO of success-at-work.com and author
of numerous books on career achievement. Did you ever hand a job or
task to someone, knowing you would have to go back over it once they
finished, to fix the inevitable errors and generally “mop up” after
them? “People who add value are just the opposite. You *know* when
you give them a task that it will be completed on time, the way you
want it, with no loose ends or unfinished parts,” says McKeown.
However, really successful “value adders” see the
completion of an allocated task as only the starting point. Maybe
it’s by turning an event into a process. Example: not just clearing
up a filing mess, but putting a filing system in place to avoid future
backlogs. “In whatever form it shows itself, naturally successful
people consistently and appropriately add value -- all the time,”
says McKeown.
2. Become
an Expert A sure-fire way to increase your value on the job is to
keep learning. This can be as complex as getting your
MBA or as simple as reading a book every week. Whatever you do to
increase your expertise, make sure your boss knows about it! Completing
training, such as Microsoft’s MCSE certification, can make it more
likely that you'll be rewarded appropriately in your next performance
review.
Here’s an example from the field of medicine. I’m
told the average doctor makes $160,000 per year. Not bad. But I know
a liver specialist in Michigan who makes $500,000 and lives in a house
the size of an airplane hanger. He’s a recognized expert. And he’s
rewarded appropriately. What subject can you become an expert in for
your employer?
3. Be
There Every Day Can 80% of success really come just from showing up,
to paraphrase Woody Allen?
In the minds of many, the answer is “yes!” “I still remember my first
promotion with a mixture of pride and amusement,” says McKeown. “I
was a young kid back in Ireland, and I had a paper-route before school.
I needed the money and never missed a morning.” “After 3 months, the
owner pulled me aside and said: ‘Les, I’m going on vacation for three
weeks. I want you to be in charge. I’ll give you an extra five shillings
every week.’”
When McKeown asked his manager why he had been
chosen over older, more-experienced newsboys, he got this reply: “Simple.
You’re always there. That means more to me than anything else. I wanted
peace of mind on vacation. I knew you’d be there every morning.”
Are you THERE every day for your employer? If so,
you may find your steady presence makes you more valuable than less-dependable
co-workers. By adding value, becoming an expert,
and “being there” every day, you can make yourself indispensable to
any employer. Which can lead to faster promotions, keys to
the executive washroom -- whatever it is that defines career success
for you.
Best of luck to you!
*************************************************
Copyright ©2002 Kevin Donlin
Kevin Donlin is Managing Editor of 1 Day Resumes. The 1DR writers
provide same-day, one-on-one resume writing assistance. He is also
author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed," a
do-it-yourself manual that will help you find a job in 30 days ...
or your money back. For more information, please visit
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