Have you ever worked with someone who did just enough to get by? Some take this approach to life to an artform. They spend a lot of energy avoiding work or trying to look like they are working while the exceptional people are looking for ways to be excellent at what they do. How do you become exceptional? Here are ten ways professionals can be exceptional in the workplace. Maybe there is something in this list you have never considered?
#1 Learn Something New Every Day
This is how you stay relevant as you age. A great question each night at the dinner table is, “What is something new you learned today?”
#2 Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Stretch yourself every day and don’t be afraid to fail. Embrace failure as a way to remain humble and an opportunity to grow. Others identify more with your failures than your successes.
#3 Ask Good Questions
Not only ask but be genuinely interested in the answers. As a society, we have lost the ability to be curious. Focus on asking rather than telling. The way to be “interesting” is to be “interested.” If this does not come naturally to you, make a list of questions on your phone to review right before your next meeting. Consider questions like:
- As a member of this team what are you most excited about right now?
- What decision will make the most sense 5 years from now?
- Whose accomplishments on our team are we overlooking?
#4 Do A Little More
Find out what is required in your current assignment, then do a little more. It is important that you don’t show others up so try to include others in your efforts.
#5 Ask For Input
Ask each teammate how you can better work with them. Resist the temptation to be defensive if you disagree. Simply thank them for their input. This is a great way to manage up if no one is developing you.
#6 Develop a Healthy Identity
This is so you always know who you are no matter what happens or what is said about you and your work. This is an extremely attractive characteristic in a team member because it reduces the drama. You will likely need some outside help with this from a mentor or coach.
#7 Don’t Take Offense Too Easily
Offended people are literally unattractive…people avoid them. Who wants to hear about how you have been mistreated? If considering an offense I use the three-day rule. If I am deciding whether or not to confront the offender, I have three days to do it. After three days I must let it go. This protects me from getting bitter and protects the team from a potential overreaction from me when offenses are kept in reserve for future ammunition.
#8 Write Handwritten Notes
Texts and emails are ok but if you really want to stand out and impact others write a note. This is not only to thank others but when you see an opportunity to affirm and encourage them as well. Make it as easy as possible to accomplish by having stationery with your return address printed on the envelopes and stamps handy. Make it a weekly goal to write at least one note of encouragement.
#9 Don’t Be the First to Leave
This is a big temptation when a long meeting ends. Most people are in a 3-point stance ready to sprint out the door. Resist this and speak with those around you or seek out someone across the room. There are relationships that will never happen if you don’t stick around even for a couple of minutes. You should never be too busy or too important to linger.
#10 Ask Advice
Hopefully there are those ahead of you that are good examples worth emulating. Everybody likes to talk about their favorite subject…themselves. Find a mentor. Create a Mastermind Group of peers to bounce ideas off and learn from each other.
Choose one take-away to work on this week. This is not an exhaustive list so what would you add? Submit a comment below with your additional ideas.
Hopefully this will help in your journey to be exceptional.
