Transform your career

With everything that has been written about how firms should reform culture in order to engage workers, I can't help but think about the opportunity that we as contributors have to help improve our organizations as well.

Employers and workers both have a role in the development of a company, and the reality is that workplaces are constructed on a two-way relationship in which both parties contribute to the company's overall success.

I would hazard to suggest that the relationship between the two is becoming more important with each passing day. Yes, the door may be opened from either side.

To take this into consideration, we need look at the "organizational contract" that we have with our employers that is not explicitly stated. What should we, as workers, do in order to make the most of our opportunities? I've spoken to a variety of supervisors, ranging from sales to consulting, to get a sense of the characteristics that they often see in their most valuable employees. Following is a list based on the feedback received:

Make an effort to be well-versed in your field. In most cases, if you are not keeping up with the latest "hot buttons" in your sector, you are failing both yourself and your company. The internet provides a plethora of options for researching and discussing industry-specific subjects. An in-house specialist is also available to speak with you for a small period of time. Get up to speed as rapidly as you can before the meeting.

Increase your overall degree of business understanding. Are you unsure of how your contribution impacts the bottom line? What does your boss really do? Know precisely how your company generates and loses money, and how to explain it to others. Invest an hour every week on developing this critical business "muscle."

Take a more global perspective on your job. When finishing a project for which you have been given, avoid merely checking off activities on your to-do list. Always keep the end-user in mind, whether it's a customer from outside the business or someone from inside the organization. How can you improve the quality of your work so that it is more useful to them?

Working with a feeling of urgency is essential. High-potential workers recognize the importance of developing a clear road plan and staying on track. As one Senior Vice President put it, "They wake up in the morning with a strategy and a desire to achieve their objectives."

Inquire about the company's objectives. Consider yourself to be as worried about your company as you would want them to be about you. Inquire about the difficulties and projects that are currently underway. Offer assistance when it is needed; you will benefit as a result of your efforts.

Know your teammates and their roles. Do you have a team allocated to you? Participating as a team member is an art form — and one that is more vital in today's workplace. As a result, do your homework. If you are familiar with the histories of your team members, you will be more involved in them. Even if you have a propensity to "switch off" opposing viewpoints, you may find yourself seeing things very differently if you learn a bit more about their origins.

Don't compare your professional experiences with others. Career advancement is a very personal process. It might be discouraging when a coworker advances farther up the corporate ladder at a faster rate than you, but there may be a perfectly valid reason for this. Don't "jump ship." Stay aboard the boat. Have faith in your own worth and the knowledge that you will achieve success.