You have established yourself as a good employee by doing the basics like showing up on time, playing well with others, learning, and soaking in the nuances of the company culture. This point usually comes about 6-9 months after starting a new job or company. You have hit a groove and might even feel a little bored or monotonous. The curve is at its peak and can quickly head down toward being a ‘stagnant employee’. Now it is time to turn it up a notch and keep the curve moving upward! First, do it for your own satisfaction and happiness. Getting into a stagnant state at work breeds unhappiness and reduced productivity. Most people start looking for a different job to try and “fix the problem”. Second, do it for your company. The more you give, the more you will likely receive (disclaimer: it doesn’t always work this way;). Managers and smaller companies often welcome new ideas, and innovation and will get behind employees who want to take the lead. They are just waiting for someone to take the reins.
Here are some ways to elevate your career and ‘good employee’ status:
Talk with your boss or mentors about goals, desires, and experiences
Don’t wait until your yearly evaluation to discuss your career goals, ideas, and desired experiences. Talk about these things early and often with your boss, their boss, and key mentors in the company. These are the people who are making decisions about who should represent the team in a project or important meetings and when new projects should start. Help these key decision makers know that your name is top of the list.
Seek new experiences
Make a list of things that you’d like to experience within your company. Think about how and who can help you to get those experiences. For example, while I worked for a Fortune 1 company, it was desirable to have experience visiting store and satellite locations to gain exposure to the heart of company operations. Often leaders had an open seat on a company plane and would look to fill the seat with a new employee or someone vocal about wanting those experiences. In these cases, the squeaky wheel often got the plane seat.
Ask to attend meetings or for a recap
Often your manager might not think to bring you along to a meeting or event that can provide good exposure to ideas or other leaders. Ask if you can attend meetings that interest you. Don’t be afraid of the ‘no’. If the answer is no, then ask for a recap of the meeting. This shows interest in the ideas and decisions being made that affect your job.
Keep up to date with company goals and initiatives
Don’t skip the company-wide meetings where company goals are discussed, new initiatives are presented, and the CEO gives his/her updates. This might sound like a good time to hide at your desk and crank out work, but don’t do it. This is where you gather valuable nuggets and insights about what is important in the company now. Use this intel to align your work to those and requests to company and leadership goals. For example, if increasing tech and automation are the hot buttons for the company, then align your suggestions to those goals. They will be well received and show that you are staying on top of the important things.
Step up for special projects
- When projects are presented to you or the team, consider a few qualities. Even if the project doesn’t seem immediately attractive, these answers might change your mind.
- Does it increase your exposure to new people, processes, or segments of the company?
- Does it align with company goals and initiatives?
- Does it align with your career goals or desires?
- Does it give you new experiences (i.e. lead cross-functionally, show off areas of expertise, work with high-level executives)?
Being well-rounded
This sums up everything. All of these items help you to be a well-rounded employee. This makes you stand out and desirable for promotions or projects.
