Career Talk: How To Win In The World Of Work
In education, it’s pretty clear how you win. You have to study hard, remember what you’ve been taught, and perform in the exam.
But in the world of work, the rules of engagement are less clear. Many people who consider themselves intelligent often find themselves struggling when facing the market.
That’s where this short guide can help. We look at some of the ways to win in the world of work and how to engage with it (even though it’s nothing like school or college).
Here’s what you need to keep in mind if you want to rise up the career ladder and get into a position where you can feel proud of your personal achievements and goals.
How To Win In The World Of Work in 4 Ways
How To Win In The World Of Work #1
Maintain A Positive Attitude
The first step is to maintain a positive attitude. Even though the world of work can be a harsh place, you want to stay mentally strong and not let it affect you too deeply.
Ultimately, getting far in a career is a game. It takes some people longer to rise through the ranks than others, but eventually, patience pays off.
A positive attitude means looking at work favourably. Even if your manager calls you into the office for a dressing down, treat it as part of the pantomime (and don’t make the same mistakes again).
When you stay positive, it helps improve other people’s perceptions of you. When things are going wrong, you’re the strong person in the midst of the fray others can approach for support and guidance.
How To Win In The World Of Work #2
Have A Growth Mindset
When trying to win in the world of work, it also helps to have a growth mindset. You want to learn new things continually so you can be of value when the next shift in working practices comes.
For instance, imagine if you’d been an expert in digital photography at Kodak in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The company would have cherished your skills and perhaps promoted you when it realised it had made a strategic error in its technology focus (believing digital photos would never take off).
Once you have a growth mindset, you’re ready to tackle anything that comes along in your field. You’re much more likely to succeed if you can prove you have the ability to get your company through problems they face without harming their bottom line.
How To Win In The World Of Work #3
Sell Yourself
It also helps if you sell yourself in the job market. Just keeping your head down and out of sight usually doesn’t work, even if you’re producing good work.
CV Experts suggests enhancing your resumé and writing a compelling cover letter. Ideally, you want to highlight your accomplishments, big wins, and times you overcame serious challenges to rectify a situation that could have gone wrong. Providing this information gives hiring managers practical information that sets you up for a promotion.
How To Win In The World Of Work #4
Build Working Relationships
Finally, it helps to build working relationships. Building trust among your peers makes it more likely you’ll achieve the top positions and move with power through any organisation.
Target key people you want to impress with your competence. Get them to support your applications for higher-level positions.
Further Reading: Leading Life Changes to Make after a Bump in Salary
PIN: How To Win In The World Of Work
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