Five Ways to Show Your Boss You’re Ready for that Promotion

You’ve been in the same position at your job for a while. It’s natural that you want to move up, make more money and take on more responsibility. After all, you’ve put in the time and earned it.

The only problem is that you’re not the only one in this position. A few of your coworkers probably feel the exact same way. For you to land the promotion, you need to stand out and make yourself a vital asset to the team.

That might sound like a lot of work, but these easy-to-follow steps will help show your employer it’s time for you to move up and advance in the company:

1. Dress for success

Your physical appearance doesn’t affect how well you do your job. But it does show your level of professionalism. Consider the standard dress at your workplace, and try to match that.

Obviously, if the dress code is casual, you don’t need to overdress. But you can still take a few extra minutes each morning on your appearance to show your employer you care about work and how you represent the company. And, paying attention to how you present yourself shows you’re aware of how you come across to other people.

2. Be punctual and prepared

Employers notice who shows up late and who’s on time. Avoid strolling in late like you own the place.

Arrive a few minutes early so you’re settled before the clock strikes 9:00 a.m. If your lunch is already in the fridge, your coffee on your desk and your email open as everyone else arrives, you’ll send the message that you value your job and care enough to start work when it’s scheduled to begin.

3. Ask questions and make suggestions

The biggest asset to any company is someone who knows what they’re doing. Asking valuable questions and clarifying answers is the best way to become well-rounded in your line of work.

Never be afraid to ask questions. Not only will you understand your position better, but you’ll show your employer you aim to get the most out of your time spent at work. Asking questions might make you feel as though you’re being a pest, but you’ll be strengthening your performance and making yourself a better asset to the company.

Speak up and make suggestions. Nothing will impress your employer more than if you offer ideas to improve the work environment. Don’t be aggressive or persistent about your suggestions, but try to show you can be resourceful and creative when it comes to thinking of ways to improve the company’s efficiency.

4. Go the extra mile

It’s never fun to do more work than required, but sometimes doing a little more than everyone else can help you stand out. Do a little work from home, stay a few minutes after hours or take on an extra side project (even just getting the coffee going in morning).

You’ll set yourself apart from the rest of the pack and show you can be counted on.

5. Brighten up the place

Attitude can take you a long way in life, and a cheery, optimistic demeanor can make a difference in the workplace. It’s important to be yourself, but try to be someone your coworkers enjoy working with as well.

Getting along with others and avoiding workplace drama shows you’re mature and professional.Nothing is more of a turn-off to employers than catty, childish behavior.

It’s also important to take direction. Listen to any feedback and ask open-ended questions about what’s expected of you to show you’re willing to work within the company’s guidelines. On the other hand, getting defensive and having a rebuttal for any constructive criticism can leave the impression that you’re hard to work with and can’t own up to mistakes.

6. Communicate your desires effectively

Sometimes, showing your boss you’re ready to move up is as simple as saying it out loud. Express to your employer that you have a desire to advance with the company, and inquire about any future positions. This will put you in mind when a position does come along.

Standing out to your employer doesn’t have to be calculated. In fact, the steps you can take are easy. And if you’re already a quality employee, you most likely already practice these habits and have shown your boss you’re ready to move up the ladder.

The most important thing (as many times as you’ve heard it before) is to believe in your own abilities. If you lack confidence in yourself, don’t expect anyone to fill the gap for you.

About the author

Arlene Chandler is a freelance writer who loves helping people prepare for life’s unexpected turns. She writes about finance tips, career advice and income protection insurance (Suncorp).

Original Link: http://blog.brazencareerist.com/2013/05/06/5-ways-to-show-your-boss-youre-ready-for-that-promotion/?othersrcp=16057&wExp=N

Five Ways To Prepare For A Sabbatical

Sabbaticals, which have become increasingly common due to work pressure and higher aspirations, can hinder growth if not planned well. Worse, they can make the transition back to professional life tough. Shreya Biswas finds out how to make them work for you. 

1 Decide on the Reason 
Employees take sabbaticals to manage a special circumstance such as a family crisis or a child’s exam; when they feel the burnout coming; or to expand their knowledge and skills. “Decide what you want to address during your sabbatical, first, to make the best use of time that you will have to yourself,” says Ruchi Sinha, assistant professor, organisational behaviour, ISB. 

2 Discuss it with Your Family 
Before you reach out to your employer and communicate your decision, talk with your family. “The family backs you up if your plan doesn’t work out, be it financial or mental. Discuss with your spouse, children and parents before you take the leap,” says Sunetra Wagh, associate vice president – head (operations and strategy - manufacturing), Zensar, who returned from her eight-month sabbatical this April after her son completed his Standard 12 board exams. 


3 Plan Ahead 
Let your organisation know well in time so they can prepare for the time you will be away. Wagh, for instance, told her boss about her plan in January last year and formally in April, as she planned to go on the sabbatical from August. “It helped them find a back-up and I got the time to help the person transition into a new role and hand over my responsibilities.” Apart from work being taken care of, it kept her goodwill intact. 


4 Start a Sabbatical Fund Make a financial plan for your time away, saving at least 12 months worth of expenses for every three months of sabbatical. Think about sub-letting your apartment for taking care of regular household expenses. “For healthcare needs, get a private insurer or negotiate with your company,” says Prasenjit Bhattacharya, CEO, Great Place to Work Institute. 


5 Keep in Touch Once you’ve left for your sabbatical, continue networking online. Inform those close to you and family through a blog or an update every two weeks. Keep in touch with your boss and colleagues. This will come in handy when you get back to your professional life, says Bhattacharya.

The Economic Times, Mumbai, 28-07-2013
Original Link: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=ETNEW&BaseHref=ETM/2013/06/28&PageLabel=8&EntityId=Ar00801&ViewMode=HTML

Five Ways To Curtail Star Tantrums

Every company has to deal with a tuft of employees who score a perfect ten when it comes to work but fail in interpersonal relationships. They prefer to work in silos, know their value but often make the mistake of believing they are indispensable. Human resource heads of Corporate India have strategies lined up their sleeves to tackle with these employees and get them grounded. Devina Sengupta looks at some of them. 


1 Draw a Performance Plan Product services firm, Netapp, has an immediate remedy for all star employees who refuse to toe the line. They are put in the time-bound performance management plan, with specific areas of improvement and a follow-up session. “There have been instances when we have asked star employees to leave because they did not improve despite being on these programmes,” says SR Manjunath, human resource head. The company had once asked a top performer to quit for passing an unpardonable remark about another colleague. 


2 Include Career Counselling At the RPG Group, career counselling and personal coaching help the employee realise that for him or her to be a star performer, it will need more than just achieving key result areas. “Any gap in behavioural competencies mean one is not a star employee and his career progression will be at stake,” says Amit Das, senior vice president, group HR for RPG Group. Building on interpersonal skills, support programs and one-on-one coaching helps in getting them running on the right track. 


3 Increase Teamwork At HDFC Life, performers who prefer to work in silos and are not empathetic towards others are given more teamwork. The insurance company has 13 to 15 specially-created cross-functional teams, with four to five members in each. These teams are given special projects where they have to work together to achieve certain goals. “We get achievers who are averse to collaboration to work in these projects. They soon learn to work in teams,” says Rajendra Ghag, executive vice-president and chief human resources officer. 

4 Ask Hard Questions A company dealing with prima donnas has to first find out if those employees have an inherent problem or are working amongst “dwarfs”. Nearly 60% of best employers are interested in leadership roles and are willing to be improve for the next role while the rest are best left alone, says Saundarya Rajesh, president and founder of AVTAAR Career Creators and Flexicareers India. “Those who are good performers but lack leadership qualities are also important and do not aspire to become the next CEO. Therefore, a firm does not lose out by not mentoring them and often during a shake out, they look for other opportunities,” she says. 


5 Watch Your Attitude 
The best performer’s ego is often his or her Achilles Heel and superiors need to be sensitive about this. Mocking them or putting them down in front of others will not help them confront their problems; rather, it will make them go further into a shell or worse, put in their papers.

The Economic Times, Mumbai 02-07-2013
Original Link: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=ETNEW&BaseHref=ETM/2013/07/02&PageLabel=8&EntityId=Ar00801&ViewMode=HTML