3 Easy Ways To Stand Out At Work
How to set yourself apart from others
I hate to say this, but the competition in the workplace is real.
Accept it or leave it; everyone wants to shine and get promoted within the team.
It’s the ugly reality.
Promotions will not jump at you because you show up at work. You have to be remarkable in your role and the team to earn the respect of your manager and peers.
I will share easy ways you can quickly stand out and set yourself apart from your peers.
There are magic formulas. I know they work because I practise them daily.
1. Ask intelligent questions, especially in meetings
A big part of standing out is by asking intelligent questions.
You don’t have to be the person who talks a lot and overshadows everyone else in the meeting room.
Talk less and listen more.
When you are ready to contribute or ask questions, ensure they are clear, concise, and punchy.
Pay attention during meetings and take notes whenever possible to help you make positive contributions.
Frame your questions to show interest in learning more rather than trying to show off or prove someone wrong.
Pro tip: Never blame or point fingers at your colleague in a team meeting.
2. Always have a solution handy when you share a problem
The reason is simple:
You want to be seen as a problem-solver.
To be a successful leader in your new job, you must always propose solutions to problems.
It’s not enough to talk about problems and leave. Managers don’t like it.
Take it further to show you are genuinely interested in solving the problem.
It doesn't have to be the right solution. It’s just important to think about and suggest solutions when discussing problems.
3. Don’t always voice out answers to questions everyone knows
It’s natural to want to be the first one to answer the question.
After all, it shows that you’re intelligent and engaged. Some people see it otherwise.
Sometimes, it’s better to let someone else take the lead, especially when it’s a low-hanging fruit.
Don’t be the person who always answers the most straightforward questions in a meeting.
It makes you seem like you have nothing else to offer, and it’s boring for everyone else.
Save your easy answers for the more challenging questions.
Closing thoughts
There will always be a need to stand out in your job.
Whether for promotion or to be seen as knowledgeable and a valuable team member.
Show your worth by asking intelligent questions, proposing solutions or suggestions to solve a problem, and not being all over the most straightforward questions in a meeting.
Whenever You Are Ready, Here Are Other Ways I Can Help You Advance Your Career:
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The Tools I Use
Here are the tools I recommend (affiliates):
Siteground to power my ultra-fast website
Notion to organise my workspace for maximum productivity
You can find the full list here.
Banji Alo