If you want to progress in your career, you’ll need to ensure that your boss knows you’re there. If they don’t notice you or the work you’re doing, then when it comes time for a promotion it’s going to be hard to stand out from the crowd.
It’s vital to make a good impression on your employer if you want to advance at work – the only other option is to search for an entirely new job, and that’s not an easy thing to do. If you love where you work and you enjoy what you do, then moving on up where you are makes sense, but if your boss isn’t aware of you, that’s going to be tough too. Here are some useful tips to ensure your boss notices you so you can vie for that promotion you’ve always wanted.
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Know About Them
Knowing things about your boss is not the same as stalking them and following them everywhere, and you do need to be careful; you don’t want to come across as too much. However, knowing a little about their hobbies and their family so that you can engage in conversation with them when you need to is useful.
The key to this idea is to listen to what your boss talks about, and notice things about them. If they come into work with cool new golf bags, for example, you can comment on them, talk about golf (if you know anything about it), and engage in friendly conversation. Little things like this will strengthen your relationship, and when the time comes for a promotion or more responsibility, they will remember you.
Take Bold Steps
If you want to get on at work and you want to be noticed more by your employer, you should take bold steps when you can – this will help you to stand out and be more memorable. These bold steps don’t need to be risky, of course, unless you have thought things through in advance, and they don’t need to be detrimental to anything that anyone else is doing. One idea would be to ensure you’re the first one to comment or ask questions in a meeting, or perhaps being the first one to answer a question.
Many people will be cautious of doing this, worried about being criticized or getting an answer wrong, and so on. However, if you can get over these fears and keep your end goal in mind, you should be able to take these bold steps to ensure your boss notices you.
Always Be On Time
It might sound like a small thing, but in terms of getting you noticed, always turning up to work – and meetings and training events and anything else you need to attend – on time can make a big difference in how your boss sees you. Those who are late are going to be noticed but not for the right reasons; being on time or, even better, early, will help you to stand out and as a bonus, it will show your boss that you’re dedicated to your job.
Of course, sometimes people have to be late for work for entirely legitimate reasons, and that can’t be helped, but if this is something you have to do you must tell your boss as soon as possible; not turning up on time and not letting anyone know why is not a good idea if you want to be noticed for the right reasons.
