Making a name for yourself in a new company can be a daunting task. From the moment you start, you not only have to navigate a new company culture, do your job (well), and learn your coworkers’ names, but you also feel the pressure to impress.
There are a few different schools of thought on how to make yourself irreplaceable at work. While some people feel the best way to stand out is to take a cutthroat approach, many people in the new collaborative workplace mindset, believe there’s a better way, and I would agree.
Get to know your coworkers (and your boss!)
You don’t have to be glued to your chair to be a valuable employee. In fact, the more you are willing to collaborate and create connections with your coworkers, the more valuable you will become. Work can be a great opportunity to create relationships that can be incredibly beneficial later in your career.
Don’t limit your connections to only your coworkers. Get to know your boss and work to show them your work ethic and dedication to the company’s values. You were hired not just for your capabilities, but also for how well you fit the company culture. Take advantage of that fact and foster great connections!
Do great work
Whatever your job, take pride in your work and don’t take shortcuts. Whether you’re just starting out, or a 15 year vet, people notice when you do great work. Don’t let little things slip through the cracks. Prioritize and work hard to do your job well. Every task, project or interaction you are a part of, you are building your personal brand and professional reputation. It’s up to you to make it good or bad.
Keep growing
Work to develop yourself professionally whenever you can. Attend networking events, panel discussions, and workshops. Even simply reading industry blogs is a great way to learn and make it clear to your employers that you are working to reach your full potential. In addition to those very real benefits, your job will actually become more fun! You’ll have the opportunity to put new skills to the test and apply them to your job every day – this makes the days go by fast and enhances your career!
Solve problems
Instead of being the one to point out problems, be the one to offer solutions. The best way to show you’re willing to give your all is to be ready to offer solutions to even the smallest dilemmas. If you panic in the face of challenges or give up entirely, you could lose hard-earned respect and credibility in your workplace. Even if your ideas aren’t the ultimate fix to the problem, the fact that you calmly worked to solve an organizational issue will not go unnoticed.
Be positive
Have you ever worked closely with a “glass half empty” kind of person? It tends to be difficult to deal with that on a daily basis and makes work harder. If you stay positive (even on those especially busy days) it will show your coworkers that you can handle yourself professionally in difficult situations, and it will also give you a chance to address things head on. Finding employees who can stay cool, calm, and collected under pressure is more difficult than you might think. Your employers will value that you understand how to prioritize and keep things moving forward. Who doesn’t want to work with someone like that?
While your skills and experience are incredibly important, it’s how you take initiative and react to varying situations that shows your company your true value. Do you have other ways to make yourself irreplaceable at work? Let’s discuss in the comments!
