(By Loyd Ford) So work is changing. In the late 80s and early 90s a popular phrase was ‘there’s a New World Order.’ Well, today it’s actually a New Work Order.
Some will work from home. Some will work a hybrid schedule. Others will be what we might call ‘relaxed.’ But things have likely changed permanently in some very interesting ways where you work.
Employers have started to look at their use of real estate, bosses have placed an even higher focus on how productivity is being produced and where waste may be now more evident. Employees should be looking, too.
How you do at work has in many cases been given an extra layer of complication by work-from-home or what we may have in the past called satellite work situations. Some workers don’t come “in” as often as they once did. Even if changes don’t directly impact if you work from home some or remain in your traditional at-work environment, it’s now more important than ever to elevate your value with your co-workers and your boss or bosses.
How do you elevate your value in today’s complex workspaces? Let’s take a look at a few tips.
- Ask for help. This is really tough in a world that essentially poses as if they have it all figured out. Asking for help, showing vulnerability allows you to actually build stronger relationships. Use asking for help. Use vulnerability. Grow strength in your relationships at work.
- Be honest and ‘even.’ What’s the one thing everyone loves in an at-work environment? Stability. Be the person who stays even in your workplace and with your co-workers and boss or bosses. Be honest and direct without being abrasive or negative. Do these things and you will ‘float’ to the top at work.
- Avoid gossip. I know, the temptation sure is fun. Stay away from this. It isn’t any of your business and has nothing to do with your j-o-b. Avoiding gossip is a way to retain your status as a person others like. “If they talk about another person, they’ll talk about me” the saying goes. It’s true. Stick to the business at hand.
- Use your creativity, but always share credit for anything good. There are always problems in any significant work environment. You want to be someone who thinks on their feet and someone others can depend on for unique problem-solving ideas, but share the credit. Nobody likes a show off, but everyone likes someone who includes others in good news.
- Do more than your job. The major question on the minds of managers and corporate types everywhere is, “How can we do more with less expense, less human assets and more job sharing?” So, as employees, one of our goals is to be that player that adds up to more than his or her position on the team. Do this and any cutting that happens will try hard to avoid you.
- Always self-educate and bring fresh and relevant information into your work. This isn’t creativity. It’s information. Every business and business situation in a wide variety of industries changes over time and regularly. This is especially true in the radio business today. Make certain that you stay up to date with trends and changes and bring the information you learn directly to your team so everyone you touch is up-to-date. They’ll thank you for it.
You can call it whatever you wish, but doing these nine things well regularly will create a consistent pattern of behaviors that your co-workers and boss or bosses are likely to ‘stick up for’ in the coming months and years. Of course, you can’t please everyone, but if doing these nine things regularly doesn’t elevate you at work….you’re in the wrong place and they don’t deserve you.
Ultimately, we all know that the more valued you are at work, the better off you are for staying employed. However, as always, I recommend you have a plan and you can have these nine critical tips as your starting point for showcasing your value through the lips of other people. If you get others to stick up for you, you are more likely to keep your job and get ahead. Yes, even in today’s world.
Loyd Ford consults radio stations, coaches personalities, and provides behavioral and strategic programming to radio with RPC. If you’re on the Clubhouse app, you can join Loyd’s radio pro encouragement group “The Encouragers.” Reach him anytime. 864.448.4169 or [email protected].
