How to Get Noticed at Work in Just 5 Minutes - The Muse

How to Get Noticed at Work in Just 5 Minutes - The MuseHow to Get Noticed at Work in Just 5 Minutes Youre good at your job. And on top of that, youre conscientious, polite, and deadline-oriented. You show up on time every day. Your long-term professional goals are well-defined, and you work toward them consistently. But, surrounded by similarly high-achieving colleagues, these attributes may not be enough to make you stand out- especially if youre employed by a large organization.You may think you have to brainstorm news initiatives or overhaul old systems to get noticed. But small actions can be impactful, too- in a fraction of the time. Here are five options to that you can try today1. Offer to Take on New ProjectsLending a helping hand- before someone has to ask you- makes you look proactive and team-oriented. So, instead of waiting to possibly be recruited for additional responsibilities, offer to take them on at the get-go. Dont let the fact that its not your project or your usu al team get in your way. If you need to learn new skills, all the better. Stretching yourself helps you build experience and increases your value within the company.Make the OfferHi Co-workers Name. I noticed I have some free time in my schedule this week. Are there any projects I can lend a hand on?2. Provide a Specific ExampleProviding specific examples shows that youre actively engaged and can help you make your points. For example, when you skip Great job, earlier, in favor of I thought the additional point you made about the marketing strategy was really insightful, it proves you were listening.Additionally, when presenting an idea to a colleague or boss, referencing specific examples in your conversation shows that youve given the issue serious thought and considered the ideas real-world impact.Explain Your PointI think doing this would be especially helpful when employees have to insert company process or procedure here and could help insert example of how your idea would imp act a regular daily event.3. Speak Up at Company MeetingsYou may not always have specific examples or data that jumps to mind. Thats OK. The willingness to put yourself out- and say something- carries enormous weight. Not only that, but simply speaking up is likely to make your attendance mora memorable. (Assuming, of course, that youre adding to the conversation and not being a distraction or repetitive.)Feel free to offer your own opinions, and if youre stuck on something new to say to add, amplify a co-workers point by agreeing.Add onI agree with Co-workers Name idea to modify the reporting model. I think what were doing now has been effective, but there may be a mora efficient way to get this done.*4. Get in the Mindset to Hear Constructive FeedbackConstructive is the operative word here. Criticism stings, so its human nature to initially fear or turn away from it. But to identify areas for growth, youll need to listen instead. Then ask yourself- honestly- if theres any merit to the other persons points.For example, if you were told you havent been meeting deadlines, you could objectively look back and see that, yes, you have blown through the last three out of four due dates. That recognitions the first step in resolving that issue. From there, you could set calendar reminders, start the work early, and plan micro-deadlines to stay on track. Remind YourselfFeedbacks going to help me identify areas for growth so I can keep excelling at my job. Im capable of hearing the other person out and not getting defensive.5. Improve Your EmailsAny time youre preparing to submit an email, ask yourself if theres anything that could be better. Im not talking about actually including the attachment and proofing it for typos. Those steps are great, and I bet you already do them. (Not so sure? Heres a reminder of the basic email rules.)But spend these find minutes making it better overall Is it clear what the purpose of that document is? Is all the appropriate information there? Is anything missing? Put yourself in the other persons shoes to quickly decide if more details need to be added, or if youre good to go. Ask YourselfIf I was receiving this, what else would I want to know?As you read each of these ideas, you mayve noted that following through on them- actually completing that project you offered to help with, making changes based on feedback- will take more than five minutes. But thats a good thing. Often the hardest part is getting started, and each of these steps make a good impression- and give you a launch point to do even better. It will take effort. But your readiness to go above and beyond at work effectively changes the game and ups your ante