You’ve probably heard the phrase “nobody likes a suck up” quite a few times in your life. While this is true, the sad fact is that there is actually one person who’s opinion kind of matters… Your boss.
In order to get ahead in your career, you’re unfortunately going to have to do a little bit of sucking up. This doesn’t mean becoming someone’s pack mule, but you do need to make a good impression on your employer – grabbing their attention means you also have a chance at grabbing that promotion you want.
GetSmarter, an online education company specialising in short courses for working professionals, has suggested 8 things you can do right now to put a smile on your boss’s face – without selling your soul!
1 Mirror your company’s values
If you don’t know what your company’s values are, you better find out now. Every company has a handful of core values for a reason – they are things the company is striving to emulate. And unsurprisingly, they are wanting to hire employees who have the same values. Consistently live up to their values, and your employer will start seeing you as the one they can hold others up to.
2 Make a fuss about the little things
No one ever said that an OCD personality was a bad thing – especially when it comes to your work! So don’t rest until that little typo has been corrected, and show a tenacity in getting the little things right. It’ll show your boss that you care about producing a great product for the company.
3 Dress like you want to succeed
Have you ever thought about the effects of wearing a smart outfit to work? Because it’s quite profound. You’re not just changing the way you look, you’re also changing the way you feel. Dressing for success will make you feel more powerful, and there’s no doubt that your boss will notice your extra confidence.
4 Get to work early and leave late
Punctuality can say a lot about your character. Now we’re not suggesting that you slave away for an extra two hours everyday; but getting to work before your boss and leaving after them will show that you have a dedicated work ethic. Even if you do it just 3 days a week, you’ll definitely get your boss’s attention.
5 Take Initiative
The absolute best way to get your boss to notice you is to be proactive. Go out of your way to learn new things, find solutions and take on extra responsibilities to get more experience. If someone needs a volunteer, be the one that puts up their hand. Show them that you’re in it to win it.
6 Ask questions and listen
Curiosity is a good trait to develop if you’re a working professional. Next time you chat to your boss or superior, go out on a limb and ask a well thought out question – it’ll come across as enthusiasm, dedication and a desire to improve. And you’ll be surprised at how many people are more than happy to share what they know – including your boss.
7 Find the loopholes
Keep your eye out for any potential problems your team may have overlooked. If you find one, don’t just hand it over for someone else to deal with. Come up with a solution and a plan to implement it, then point out the problem to your boss as well as your answer to it. You will stand out as a star employee.
8 Grow yourself
Upskill, upskill, upskill! Investing in your education and constantly expanding your skill set shows that you want to contribute more to your work. Your boss will see you’re ready for the challenges ahead, and when it comes to finding a successor, you’ll be the first one they think of.
GetSmarter partners with top-tier Universities to present career-focused online short courses, postgraduate programmes, and professional accounting programmes. Visit www.getsmarter.co.za.
Do you have big career goals, but no idea how to reach them? Read these 6 secrets all successful people know about achieving their goals.
