Jump on that Promotion Escalator: Become a Superstar at Work

(Part Two of a Two-Part Series)

Look, over in that cubicle. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a workplace superstar! You’ve seen them before. They complete projects faster than a speeding bullet. They’re more powerful than their coworkers, and they can leap career ladders in a single bound. Want to know their secret? It has nothing to do with gene mutation, as you might suspect. It has more to do with attention to eight simple actions that get them recognized. You too can be a workplace superstar if you develop these simple characteristics. Last week we talked about 1-4: 1. Study the organization, 2. Develop a strategy, 3. Take initiative, and 4. Enhance your skills.

Today we’ll talk about 5-8.

5. Communicate.

Workplace superstars know that good communication requires good timing. You should not only know what messages are worth relaying, but who the audience should be and the best time to share them. You should also be able to captivate your audience. Practice your delivery so that you get to the point in a dynamic way, and avoid rambling. If you over-communicate, chances are people will begin to tune you out.

6. Go beyond the call of duty.

The “go-to guy” is the workplace superstar who can be trusted to go beyond the call of duty. Don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of, but do be willing to help your boss and/or coworkers when they need it. This also requires you to be conscious of each project and task you tackle and how it might be enhanced in order to better meet company objectives. This may necessitate that you put in extra time or revise your initial approach.

7. Practice effective leadership.

Workplace superstars are great leaders. You should recognize when a team lacks leadership and step up to the plate. Stars are not bossy or condescending; you have clear objectives and lead by involving the entire team. You should also recognize what others have to contribute and be positive and affirming. Robert E. Kelley is the author of the book How to Be a Star at Work: 9 Breakthrough Strategies You Need to Succeed. He discusses the importance of spelling leadership with a small “l.” Kelley explains that workplace superstars are great motivators and they allow their teammates to get the work done. As George S. Patton once said, “Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.”

8. Practice proactive followership.

Not only are workplace superstars great leaders, but they’re also great followers. You’ll have countless opportunities to follow in your career. And the manner in which you do is the determining factor in whether or not you become a superstar. A star follower will follow the leader, know how to best contribute, and will offer feedback in a non-threatening way.

By doing these 8 things, you can become a workplace superstar, getting the recognition necessary to climb that career ladder and get the promotion you deserve. And it may be easier than you expect; you don’t have to deflect bullets with your steel-like chest, or turn back time by changing the rotational patterns of the earth. All it requires is that you focus on your current approach at work and see how you can make positive and star-like changes.