Do you have anyone in your life that you can always count on?
Every workplace in America has that one person who is the “go-to” person for the entire office. Without them, nothing would ever get done! If you can position yourself as this person, there could be a ton of benefits to your overall career.
So, how do you become the “go-to” person at your business for technical, business, or even personal issues?
- Focus your attention on how you service your customers. As an example, I get my office supplies from Staples. I’ve gotten to know two specific employees, as they have extensive product knowledge for almost every item in the store. That’s pretty impressive since there are hundreds to thousands of them! Because they make that effort, they give excellent customer service.
- There is nothing more frustrating than when technology breaks down – the printer won’t print, programs keep crashing the computer, a customer account won’t reconcile, or the inventory count is off. If you have the technical abilities and the willingness to solve urgent problems quickly, it can help you stand out in the office.
- If you have been with the company for a long time, you have likely built up “institutional knowledge.” Other employees will often go to you because they need to understand what the company has done in the past for a specific situation.
- Back when I was a recruiter for Robert Half, I was 20 years older than my colleagues. This often made me the “go-to” person for personal issues. Women confided in me because I kept things quiet. I knew who was trying to get pregnant or who was already pregnant. They trusted me to talk about their issues, such as the appropriate time to notify their boss.
So, you know how to become everyone’s favorite around the office, but how can this benefit you and your career?
- It makes you more visible and respected as someone who genuinely cares about the company. You are willing to go out of your way to help other people, even if it takes your time.
- You can solve urgent problems or provide a different perspective on issues. Your co-workers will appreciate your willingness to make their work easier.
- You can take the initiative to learn new things on your own. You are proving that you can do other work beyond your basic job responsibilities. Sometimes that means you will get promoted to the job you want.
So, look around your office. Who can you count on to help you? Is there anyone there who counts on you? If so, double down!
That said, it can sometimes be tricky to find your niche in the office. What do you do better than anyone else there? If you want to talk about how to make yourself indispensable at your work, contact me today! As a career coach, I’ve helped countless people become more secure in their jobs, and position themselves for advancement in the future. If you’d like to get started, book a NO CHARGE consultation! I can’t wait to hear from you!