10 Simple, Smart Ways To Stand Out At Work Immediately

Become the professional you want to be – and you were meant to be.

Congratulations. So you have found a new job or you are among the lucky ones who have been comfortably settled in a job for some time now. But if you want a chance to advance in your company, you will need to stand out, really step up and contribute in multiple ways. Almost everyone performs their duties satisfactorily, but only a few will be considered for advancement when the opportunity arises. Those few are employees who have succeeded in standing out in the office.

So, what changes can you make to separate yourself from the herd? If you want to get recognition and respect from your employer and peers and be a leading candidate for promotion, consider following these tips.

1: Be Competent.
The most basic thing you need to do to get into your boss’ good books is to do your job competently. Make sure you are able to deliver above-average performance and meet deadlines consistently.

2: Be Reliable.
Use your time responsibly. Excessively surfing the internet and gossiping with colleagues can be detrimental to your career. Try not to waste your company’s resources and put yourself at risk of being labeled a slacker.

3: Be Proactive.
From little things like reloading the copy machine to helping prepare progress reports, from doing additional research for a project or helping a team meet a deadline, there are many ways to demonstrate a proactive spirit. It simply means going beyond your regular duties and doing other things without being told.

4: Be Participative.
Don’t sit quietly in meetings. Most people are either stare blankly at a wall or peek at their phones, and hardly participate. While that’s good enough for the average worker, you could speak up, participate and keep things moving. Making your voice and opinion heard is a key part of standing out at work.

5: Be Bold.
Lots of people take verbal stands. Few take a stand and put effort behind their opinions. If you think a project has gone off the rails; instead of just pointing out its flaws so you can show everyone how smart you are, jump in and help fix it. Everyone talks about problems. The people who help fix them stand out.

6: Be Volunteering.
If someone sends an e-mail out about a new initiative or simply asks for suggestions or participation, be the first to volunteer. Even if it is just cleaning up after a potluck lunch or helping with a company party. Join a diversity committee or any other group in the company where you feel you can make a great contribution. People who hang back and help out always stand out.

7: Be Leading.
Someone has to be the leader, and why not you? If it is not you, you can still contribute. Throw out ideas and suggestions. Challenge things that do not make sense, in a respectful manner. Use every opportunity to show that you have the confidence and abilities needed to work well in a team and be a good leader.

8: Be Improving.
Improve your skills constantly. The business world is constantly evolving, and you will be left behind if you do not keep yourself updated with the latest developments.

Stay relevant and marketable by doing extra to improve your knowledge and skills constantly. Be the first to update your social media profile pages and help others.

9: Be Improvising.
Go beyond your job description. When you are at work, always seek out ways to improve the company. Become a integral part of taking your company to the next level. If you show your interest lies far beyond yourself, you’ll stand out and set yourself up to become a future leader in the company.

And finally,

10: Be Hardworking.
Nothing, I repeat, nothing beats good old hard work. The best way to stand out is to simply out-work everyone else. It’s also the easiest way, because often, you’ll be the only one trying.

It takes a lot of commitment and discipline to stand out in the workplace. If you are dedicated enough to your goal, possess a little chutzpah and follow these twelve simple steps, you will be on your way to a bright future ahead of you.