How To Be Indispensable At Work

How To Be Indispensable At Work Image: rawpixel via https://unsplash.com/photos/ZQoUM-_vGEc Work on improving yourself You may have gotten a good job that you have always wanted, but there is always room for  improvement. Review your work on a regular basis. Be honest with yourself and see where you can be doing better. Make sure your goals are in line with your manager’s goals as well as the goals of the company. Set measurable goals and keep track of your progress to ensure that you are on the right track. If you lose sight of your goals, take some time to get back on track and ask for advice from your co-workers on how to stay focused. Ask your manager or supervisor for feedback after every project you complete and take notes so you remember what to change for the next project. Taking initiative to ask for feedback instead of assuming that you will receive it shows that you care about your work and that you are wanting to improve. If you make a mistake, do not beat yourself up over it, but make sure you learn what not to do next time. Be willing to go above and beyond Offer to help others once you are finished your own projects. Not only will this impress your boss by showing him or her that you care about others, but it will give you an opportunity to learn a new skill and meet other people who may be in different departments. Learning a new skill will help you stand out, especially when your boss is looking for someone to take on future projects. If no one needs help,  ask  for more work, even if it means getting a head-start on something. Arrive to work early and be willing to stay late. This is especially helpful if you know you have a lot to complete on a given day, know that you are taking time off in the near future, or have multiple deadlines coming up. Unless your boss is explicitly against people working outside of hours, putting in the extra effort will help you stand out by showing that you are willing to put in the extra effort to get things done in a timely manner and even get ahead of the game. Communicate effectively with coworkers Speak up when you need to. It may be intimidating to stand up for yourself and what you need, but it is important to let your voice be heard. Your ideas and experiences are just as valid as everyone else’s in the office. You would not have been hired if you were not worthy of the job, so do not hesitate to share your ideas and wisdom, even if you feel like you are not as qualified as some of the others in the workplace. You never know- your idea may be something that no one has ever considered and may be the solution that is needed for a problem. Do not underestimate your abilities. Ask questions when necessary. If you need clarification on instructions, ask your supervisor for more information. It is better to be sure than to mess up and be delayed by having to redo something you did. However, avoid asking questions on how to do something unless you have exhausted all other outlets of finding an answer. Ask a co-worker or Google the question first. If you are still stuck or if something is genuinely not working, by all means, let your boss know. Otherwise, keep going through the various sources of figuring out the problem. If you do feel the need to alert your supervisor of problems, send him or her a message stating that you are encountering issues, and let them know what you are doing to resolve them. This shows that you are not willing to give up and that you are willing to take initiative to solve problems that arise. Know when, and how, to listen. While speaking your mind and sharing your ideas is important, sometimes listening is even more important. Do not interrupt, even if you disagree or feel like you are being personally attacked. If you need to respond to what feels like a personal attack, respond respectfully. Make eye contact with the person who is speaking and acknowledge that you are listening by asking questions and engaging in the conversation. The workplace can be competitive, but if you work hard, you will be able to rise above and stand out amongst your co-workers. With the right skills and qualities, your boss will take note of you and see how great you are for the company.