4 Ways To Go Above And Beyond In The Workplace
Looking to impress a manager, owner, coworker, or even yourself at work? There are many ways to catch the attention of someone within the workspace and to make a lasting impact. Leaving a positive impression can help you get suggested for bigger clients or projects, line you up for more opportunities, qualify you for bonuses, and allow you to be seen as a valuable resource in the workplace. Going above and beyond could solidify your importance on the team, and discourage you from being laid off or let go if that time ever comes.
Even those who have been engaging in a quiet quitting practice as of late may want to up their game every once in a while. (But always be sure to regularly maintain a level of work output that aligns with your energy levels and the original expectations of your job.)
So, what are some ways to demonstrate your impact in the workplace? What can you do to go above and beyond so that you, in turn, could experience a better career trajectory?
1. Have the Capacity to Follow Through
Everyone loves a good idea person. And every workspace needs leaders in the brainstorming department. But not everyone can adequately scale their ideas for the company to implement sustainably. Some people even go into pitch meetings with no real plan for how they are going to approach their ideas.
Don’t just be the “big idea guy.” Make sure that you have the wherewithal to determine if your idea is something that the company – as it is – is capable of accomplishing. You may have a really lucrative idea, but if there is no first step for how to move forward with it, it can get lost in a pile of other great ideas. If it’s something you can easily go after, it will most likely be prioritized.
If you have a plan accompanying it, and the analytics to back up the necessity for the plan? If you can adequately communicate your action plan in a way that helps your colleagues understand the benefits of said plan, then you’re almost always given the green light.
Those green lights and how you perform with them will help you stand out in the crowd. Having the talent to help lead the campaign or project will allow your colleagues and superiors to notice the time and energy you are investing in the improvement of the company. If that doesn’t give you a leg up on future upward movement within the company, I’m not sure what will.
2. Beat Deadlines
Deadlines are the number 1 reason for stress in the workplace. And it is easy to see why. Having a deadline means your work will be examined by another member of your team, management, or even the client. No matter if it is just a small piece in the development of a landing page, or large-scale copy for ad placement, this means your work will be evaluated or judged by others, and that can be incredibly stressful.
Deadlines are assessed given the climate of a project and other workplace priorities. They are also often assessed based on the reliability and timeliness of the workers involved. It is OK to be late on projects sometimes – after all, life happens – but beating that deadline will really impress your coworkers, especially when you make a habit of it.
Are you someone who tends to miss the deadline by a little bit, or underestimates the amount of work that can crop up between work? We’ve got a hack to help adjust! Increase your initial deadline estimate by 25% for the public-facing work calendar or project management system. Then, add the original due date to your personal calendar. That way, you know you have a little bit of time to extend it – be it a few hours or a few days – but will always ensure your work is submitted early.
3. Actively Listen (Take Notes)
About 55% of your time will be spent listening in life. But only about 25% of the information given to you will be retained. This can actually be detrimental when it comes to work, as it demonstrates a mass amount of time wasted engaged in communication that just isn’t working. This time could be better spent elsewhere in most cases.
As difficult as it may be to ensure, active listening is key to innovation. Actually hearing what your coworkers are saying – understanding their personal and professional pitfalls, hearing their advice and thoughts, and truly working to be involved in their ideas – can make a huge difference in your workflow and happiness. Remembering both the large and small details can make you stand out in a crowd as well.
If you aren’t a pen-and-paper person and you’re at a loss for retaining information off the cuff, Hive Notes has all the tools you need to keep detailed information organized. Use it to your advantage and you may be recognized for going above and beyond.
4. Engage in Continuing Education
No matter what position you find yourself in or where you are within your career trajectory, there is always more to learn and additional ways to grow. Looking to pivot within your industry? Take a class to teach you skills to make that pivot. Want to ensure that you are staying ahead of the algorithm when it comes to paid ads and marketing skills? Look into Google’s updated analytics offerings, their Analytics Academy, or consider a masterclass in analytics from elsewhere. Lifelong learning can be a linchpin for your career, and your eagerness to learn will absolutely make you stand out.
There are so many ways to continue to up your game in your field and to make yourself a noticeable asset on your team. With the mass movement of companies to hybrid and remote work environments, even more, digital opportunities have been cropping up. Many corporations host lunch and learn with various departments and industry leaders. Make an appearance at one here and there to demonstrate to your colleagues your interest in moving yourself – and the company – forward.
Your company may even send representatives to conventions like SXSW and the Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) Annual Conference to help develop new ideas and help lead the team into new methods of working. If this is an option, be sure to let management know you may be up for representing the company at a conference in the future.
