You’re the kind of person who has their eyes on the summit. You long for more responsibility, influence, and more fulfillment in your career.
Know Your Role
Be crystal clear of your responsibilities. You need to know exactly what’s expected from you. Hopefully, you’ve been given a job description with details. Whether you have that document or not, ask your leader one simple question: What does it look like for me to win in this role? Then, go do it!Be a good listener, and ask for feedback. You don’t have to wait for an annual evaluation to find out how you’re doing. Asking for your leader’s opinion regularly will develop rapport, and give you valuable information for improving your performance.
Accept Your Role
Accepting your role is all about developing your attitude. Do you bring a creative spark to everything you do? Do you maintain a positive outlook? There’s no next if you don’t crush the now, so develop an attitude of gratitude attitude and adopt some important habits.First, hone your craft. Be the best you can be, no matter what you do. You should know your craft backward and forward, and find opportunities to practice it every day. Also, take initiative and look for problems that can be solved. If you see something, say something!
Maximize Your Role
Self-discovery is a key component of maximizing your role. You must know who you are and what you’re capable of. To earn a promotion, you must go above and beyond your current responsibilities.Develop Your Character
Focus on becoming a person with integrity who deserves more responsibility. Be honorable, and treat people the way you want to be treated. Respect their ideas and needs. Reliability is a key trait, also. Being reliable is about building trust over a consistent period of time.People should smile when they cross paths with you at the coffee station or walking down the hall, so be likeable. No one’s in a great mood all the time, and this isn’t an expectation for perfection. Still, you must do you best to bring joy to others.
Finally, be coachable. When a new opportunity, piece of technology, or policy is put on your plate, soak it up like a sponge. And don’t get defensive if your leader notices an area that needs improvement. Choose humility, and embrace the opportunity to learn.