If you want to earn more at your job then you need to be good at what you do. How many times have you heard someone say… “Is he good?” It’s often the first question people ask when they hear about someone new in the office. For most industries, your skill set will transfer from one company to the next and people will be able to tell quickly if you have what it takes to be a success.
Use these 5 tips to be good at what you do.
1. Know all there is to know
I once heard it said, “A man should know all there is to know about his business.” I never forgot that saying and it sticks with me everywhere I go in business.
Knowing everything there is to know is becoming increasingly more difficult in the modern world but the concept still applies. Start local by knowing everything there is to know within your company. Learn the ins and outs of how to do everything you might ever be asked to do. You will build value for yourself.
Next is to master the products you work on, support or sell. When you become an expert at the tools you use or the products you sell you excel at your profession. Experts rely on experience and knowledge to win at work.
Finally know all there is to know about your industry. This is where things get tough because industries can be huge. You might not ever learn it all but learn as much as you can about your competitors. Read books, case studies and blogs. Your work will never be done in learning about your industry.
2. Community
Community is huge. Forums, websites, blogs, magazines, conferences, trade shows, and seminars. Depending on the type of job you have there are probably more options than those. The key is to get involved and spend time with other people that work on similar problems. You can learn from others experiences, increase your knowledge and help others as well. When it comes time to look for another job chances are that you will look to your network of associates to help you find the right fit.
3. Help others for free
Its better to give than receive, but help yourself by helping others.
1. Shows others what you know
When you help someone you show them and everyone around them that you know your stuff. It takes confidence and skill to help someone else solve their problem.
2. Create value
When you use your expertise to help others you create value. People will value your opinion and know they can rely on you for help.
3. Demonstrate leadership
Leaders serve. If you want to show management that you are capable of climbing the ladder start by helping your piers.
4. Innovate
Take the process you use to get a task done. What is wrong with it? Is it slow and inefficient? Maybe it causes people to make mistakes. Now what can be done to improve the process? That is where you innovate.
Don’t think about creating something from thin air either. Just focus on innovating within your company. This is where knowing your products and industry can be huge. Take what you know and apply it to improve your business.
5. Lead up
I first heard the phrase lead up when I read the 360 degree leader by John Maxwell. In his book he talks about leading at every level. You can be a leader amongst your piers by helping them succeed. The same with anyone under you. But rarely to people think about leading their own boss or manager.
Leading up means helping your manager be successful. Can you imagine what would happen if you walked into your managers office and asked him/her if there was anything you could help them with? Or in a review meeting if you asked how you could help them meet their goals?
Get busy being good at what you do.
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