Welcome to career-girl Wednesday, friends! Today's post details three actionable steps you can take to become irreplaceable at work.
Today’s average worker stays at his or her job for an average of 4.4 years, but that isn’t always the case. In today’s fluctuating job market, positions are susceptible to churn and change all the time. Millennials specifically are the most prone to job-switching, either by their own accord (millennials are notorious “job hoppers”) or...not. So how can you ensure that if and when you decide to leave your current job, it’s on your own terms?
Get involved
The easiest way to establish yourself at the root of company culture is to create personal connections, both inside and outside of the office. So go to the happy hours. Eat lunch with your coworkers. Commit 100% to the employee retreats. Or better yet, become involved in planning those events. Playing an active role in your company’s culture is a guaranteed way to assure you like the direction it’s headed. And to make certain that fellow coworkers know who to look to for cultural leadership in your office (not to mention who to thank for that awesome team bowling event last week).
Hold yourself accountable
Whether you work at a creative agency, a financial management firm, or anywhere in between, one of the biggest problems at any company is ensuring project follow-through and completion. And a huge part of the issue there is accountability; when it comes down to it, who’s going to make Project X happen? There has to be one person that ultimately is responsible for the success (or failure) of a task. As the sports aphorism goes: if you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterback. Therefore, holding yourself accountable for the success of a current project or, better yet, conceptualizing and waving the torch for a new project is a great way to elevate yourself as a leader and a “do-er” among the ranks.
Vocalize your achievements (and those of others!)
In every article you read about asking for a promotion or a salary raise, one exercise is consistently recommended: promote your own achievements. The easiest way to ensure that your coworkers and superiors know about the great work you’re doing is by being your own biggest advocate. However, a key piece to ensuring your active job status at your company isn’t just touting your own achievements; it’s also important to publicly recognize your coworker’s contributions as well. A true team-player is a valued member of any organization; no one wants to get rid of their biggest cheerleader! Therefore, when you’re heralding your own work, be sure to include praise for those who played a role in your success. It will come back to you in spades.
By instilling yourself in the fabric of company culture, establishing yourself as a an accountable leader, and acting as company cheerleader, more often than not you’ll find yourself at the center of your office’s value system, both personally and professionally.Labels: career
