Getting yourself noticed in the workplace – and increasing your chances of promotion – is not a secret recipe, an expert says. In fact, ambitious young entrants to the workplace can follow a few specific steps to ensure they fully showcase their potential and improve their chances of climbing the career ladder.
According to Peter Kriel, Head of the Faculty of Business at The Independent Institute of Education, to be identified as a high-potential employee, a person should:
- Earn the respect and trust of managers, peers and subordinates alike. To be trusted and respected is simply linked to ethical behaviour, by delivering what you promise, asking when you don’t know and always respecting those around you.
- Display high levels of competence in the technical and functional aspects of your discipline. When you receive a qualification and are appointed to a position, it is assumed that you are indeed equipped to perform. It is crucial that you never oversell yourself to prospective employers and secondly, once you are in the job, learn and perform as quickly as possible. Initial impressions tend to last, so not performing right from the beginning will set you back in the medium term.
- Be open to feedback and constructive criticism. Lose the bad attitude about feedback and criticism. Remember, people who give feedback normally have more experience than you, and those who criticise, even wrongly, have a reason for doing so. Being open to feedback and criticism will not only earn you respect, but will put you in a position to become familiar with the specific nuances of the environment more rapidly.
- Solve problems and challenges creatively. Adopt a position of inquiry rather than advocacy when faced with problems and challenges. It is always good to follow a ‘what if’ approach, rather than a ‘do this, I know best’ approach.
- Show emotional intelligence through behaviour. Companies steer clear of promoting unpredictable and immature employees. Maintain a position of humility and keep a cool head at all times. Look at challenges and opportunities from different angles, and always display respect for others.
