Don’t just be a job holder
What do you consider to be your purpose in your organisation? Many would say they are there to do a job. Fair enough, but being a job holder is not good enough. When you act like just a job holder, you get lost in the average crowd and make it difficult for your superiors to entrust you with anything important. Don’t leave yourself behind. Play your ‘A’ game. Here are some ways to start.
Make your work important: If you see your job as just a job and do it as such, you could end up on the margins of the organisation or let go if the organisation is not getting what it needs from you. Even working hard is unfortunately never enough if you want to be seen as more than a job holder. Don’t just hold the job; run with it, take pride in your work and give it your very best. Stay on your toes and ensure that your output contributes to what makes the organisation tick and perform well.
Be essential: To the organisation not just in your job. There are two types of essential people in any organisation. The first group is those in positions considered critical. The second is the one which becomes so by virtue of their contributions. When you are essential, you don’t limit your assignment to that under your authority. You push yourself and let people know from your attitude that you will never let them down or get involved in triviality.
Show range: You don’t have to be a jack of all trades to show versatility. Have a body work that includes everything you create, effect and impact positively. Your knowledge, experiences and accomplishments should tell the story that you are evolving and growing in terms of the depth, breadth of your contributions and increasing level of responsibility.
Always triumph: Triumph suggests difficulty, hurdles and even obstacles. You need to be seen as someone who can get the job done no matter what is happening around them or the challenges you face. Most people can do their job well where things are plain sailing but can you do as well when things are stacked against you? You must give confidence that you persevere and come through whatever difficulties you meet.
Be a thought leader: When an organisation does not generate enough new thinking to drive improvements, it becomes stale. So, consistent improvement should be your philosophy. You must always be aware of the challenges that your organisation or team is grappling with and engage with it. Keep up with trends so that you can add your insights. Set time aside to do some quality thinking, make points and propose ideas worth listening to.
Now take action: What one thing will you do outside of your job description this week?
