Workforce: Climbing the ladder

You killed it at the interview and landed the job!

Now you get to decide what type of worker you want to be. Do you want to be the employee that does the bare minimum, just enough to get by or do you want to embrace your roll, give em all you got, and be a rock star?

Here’s some tips and tricks that will get you rock star status:

• Be hungry but don’t show that hunger to others: If you want to move ahead within a company, you have to stand out from the rest and show your value and ambition. Aim to move ahead, create a plan of how to do so but don’t let others see how hard you’re trying. Perhaps they’re older, been there longer, or feel more entitled, a lot of people will try to tear you off the ladder while you’re trying to climb higher.

• Turn work into your new favorite hobby: Educate yourself on something within the company that other’s may not be as familiar with or care about. You then become the authority on it. Spend time with customers and keep in mind things they say, and center learning about what the customer wants. Become the guru of that area, more so than even your managers. Be prepared to succeed them. Remember that most young employees won’t be doing this, so by taking the time to learn these will make you shine.

• Dress for success and to impress: regardless of where you work, always make sure to show up well groomed (showered, hair done, make-up done, clothing clean and wrinkle free, smell nice but not overpowering, wear deodorant, and brush your teeth). While your coworkers or managers may not care if you’re dressing up, even if the dress code is casual, you can choose to dress well and present yourself in the best light. You’ll impress the customers that come in if you choose to present yourself as your personal best. Plus, they’ll be more likely to interact with you and you’re more likely to be taken seriously. Plus, it will help build your self-confidence.

• Get your rest: Make sure to get enough sleep so when you’re working you’re mentally clear and fresh. You’ll perform better, be healthier, and happier.

• Don’t allow downtime: When you’re working, there will always be a time when things slow down and you’ve completed all your tasks. While others stand around, chat with each other, or secretly play on their phones, use this time to shine. Clean your area, organize, start a low priority project, or find a way to improve your skills. You may not get credit for it, but believe that management notices what you’re doing.

• Be a superhero: Challenges will appear at work, that’s just the honest truth. Most people back away like they’ve just encountered something incredibly scary. Put on your superhero cape and attempt to tackle the challenge. Ask for help if you NEED help. Coworkers will appreciate you trying to save the day. Remember, it’s better to try and fail then to not try at all.

• Become a go to- You may not be management but be the person people can go to for help or questions. By taking time to understand store policies, schedules such as when truck comes, how to do certain things, or how to fix a problem makes you a go to. Managers get busy, incredibly busy sometimes, and if you can save them the hassle of answering or helping with a small problem they will appreciate it.

• Own your actions: If you make a mistake, admit to it. Confess if you do something wrong and ask how you can fix it. Mistakes are just embarrassing opportunities to learn something new. Plus, your superiors will respect you more for fessing up instead of placing blame.

• Mind your attitude: Once you step through the doors at work, it’s time to slap a smile on your face and embrace a positive attitude. If you have a great attitude about your job, your responsibilities, and just a general great attitude, it shows and it pays off. People like to be around positive and happy people. Mind you, fake happy shows and is not appreciated.

• Ask for feedback: When you ask for feedback, it allows you to understand areas of improvement you need to tend to and displays your eagerness to improve the skills you have. You can always improve yourself, show the ambition that you want too.

• Delight them: Excellent customer service is great. But if you can go above as much that you delight them, they’ll come back to you. Management will notice when you get repeat customers by making them happy and people tend to leave feedback for stores in two situations. The first being they had an absolutely terrible experience or an amazing one of a kind experience. You’re not a robot, show each customer individualized attention and advice. Not only are you showing you know what you’re talking about, but you’re also making them feel like they matter.

• Make yourself available: if you’re able, always try to show up if they need help, offer to come in early or stay late if more work needs to be done and show up at least ten or more minutes early for your shift so you can put your things away, settle into work mode and clock in on time, every time. Also, if something has happened that is going to make you late or unable to work your shift, let your manager know as soon as you do. Don’t just wait until you HAVE to according to your handbook, if you know the night before or five hours before, let them know so they have time to find a replacement.

Basically, be a team player but allow yourself and take advantage of your chance to shine. Show management and even corporate that they made an excellent choice hiring you. If you want to get ahead, go above and beyond. Don’t sit and wait to be noticed, make them notice.

Vibe Higher,

Lobeless

#climbthecorporateladder #getahead