Four Easy Steps to Climbing the Corporate Ladder

Do you feel like you are just one of the many who go unnoticed? Do you go through your day completing assignments on time, maintain a positive attitude, and feel like no one upstairs knows your name? Here are four easy and noticeable actions you might take that will get you noticed, and inevitably open doors to bigger and better opportunities.

1) Be Innovative. Solve a problem. This is truly one of the best ways to get on an executives’ radar.

2) Make Recommendations. Tell your manager about your plan. It’s easy to point out problems in your department. No organization is perfect. But, identifying all that is wrong isn’t helpful to management if it’s not paired with a solution.  In fact, I would bet that today you are likely running through your head a list of things that need serious attention. Do you know what needs to be done to fix the problems that drive you and everyone else crazy?  This is your chance to shine. Go figure it out. How? Begin by understanding the problem not just the symptoms. Get to the core of the issue. Do your homework – research what’s been done to solve similar challenges, invite others to ponder solutions. Become the expert on the topic. When the time is right and you have the solution, schedule a meeting with your manager to discuss your insightful idea. Your self-reliance, initiative and knowledge will not only give you confidence and credibility but high marks from supervisors. Do this a few times, and you will quickly become the trusted and highly praised employee they turn to for help.

3) Raise Your Hand. Get involved in as many good opportunities as you can. Look for anything where you can stand out and rise to the top.  Does your company offer a leadership training program? Is there a particular committee that interests you? Is your boss looking for volunteers? Perhaps there is a new project that interests you; go after it! Raise your hand! Tell management you want to participate. Get involved in initiatives outside your little corner of the building. Leave your cube, expand your territory and excel at whatever comes your way.   As you do, you’ll quickly gain a deeper understanding of the company, meet others who can offer new perspectives and ultimately put yourself in a better position for growth.

4) Support And Mentor Your Fellow Peers. Coach others. Throughout your career, you have inevitably sought guidance from respected peers who freely gave of themselves to assist you. Their actions have been noted by superiors as well and they have been reward. Do likewise. Pay it forward. Be one of them. Listen to the needs of those around you. Offer your assistance, be a mentor yourself and become someone your team relies on for guidance. Remember this point- those who think and act abundantly are always going to succeed.

In conclusion, in most cases, when there is an open position, management will hire from within the company. It is generally more cost effective and beneficial for an organization to hire internally. Likewise, a current employee is already known, trusted and has a solid understanding of the company culture, its policies, processes and goals. Therefore, just remember when that next job opening is posted, it could be yours if you have followed the recommendations presented here today.