It is not enough to be good at one's job anymore. Savvy workers have reached the conclusion that certain people are just too valuable to be sacrificed in a workplace reduction. These are the "go to" people who have a unique set of skills and knowledge of the company that is so integral, they are considered the true experts, whether they have advanced academic credentials or not. How can the average worker become one of these insiders? Start by following these tips:
Become a Product, Service or Process Expert
Whatever the company does well, become the source of information on what and how the company adds value to the marketplace. If that means that in order to become an inside expert, an employee ends up spending spare time studying marketing statistics, company annual reports or engineering schematics, he will need to get on the inside track of what has made the organization successful.
In order to truly appreciate the value the company offers, talking with the customers about what is done well versus what needs to be improved upon is a great place to begin this assessment. Products and services have a unique and intricate life cycle. Recognizing where the company sits on meeting customer needs and what areas are ripe for improvement is vital to the inside expert's knowledge base. Making meaningful suggestions for improvements, based on the information gathered is one way to get noticed on the job.
Create a Path or Career Ladder within the Organization
Whether the company has a promote from within philosophy or does so without stating it outright, the informed employee finds a viable and achievable career path that fits his skills and attributes. This may mean going back to take a few courses and finally get that degree. Or, it could involve retraining, finding a career mentor or volunteering to take on tough assignments.
People who have a good feel for their own work skill strengths can use those to stand out from the crowd and get noticed. For example, someone who is an excellent writer might take the initiative to write up a new product announcement for her boss without being asked to do this. The idea is to do well beyond the scope of the expected.
Socialize with the Right Group of People
Unlike a high school clique, finding the right people to stay in contact with at work means hand picking those folks who are in the know, on top of their game, or are otherwise the real power behind the scenes at the workplace.
Make a point of stopping by at the end of the workday to chat with these insiders. Be friendly, sincere and share information freely. They will reciprocate once trust has been established. When things are happening in the company, someone in this group will be aware and will likely keep his confidants in the loop.
An employee who wants to increase his value within an organization needs to understand why the company adds value and hones in on ways he can add individual value. He develops career aspirations and works toward achieving the goals by satisfying prerequisite requirements. He will seek a career mentor as well as a group of contacts within the company who demonstrate power and capability. Further, he will volunteer for difficult assignments and take on responsibilities even without being asked to do so. In this way, he will increase his value and indispensibility within the work unit.
See the article How_to_Find_a_Career_Mentor for more in depth information.
Therese Haberman - With a MS degree and 25 years in HR mgmt, in 2005, Ms.Therese began a writing career specializing in children and HR.
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