How To Be A Guiding Light In Your Workplace

by Jan 28, 2020

So you’re looking to take on even more responsibilities at work; you’ve mastered your position and now want to shine even brighter so that your boss can see how ready you are to grow into a new role. Today we discuss the best ways to tackle both rising to the top and rising to the challenge of being a guiding light amongst your colleagues. Even if you’re not looking to step into a leadership role right this very second–even if it’s instead something you’d like to do a little further down the line–the tips from pros that we’ve assembled below are sure to make you stand out as an indispensable employee. 

 

Jo Miller at The Muse provides “5 Ways You Can Position Yourself as a Leader (Before You Have Any Followers).” Our favorite? “Be Boldly Self-Aware. Do you know your workplace brand? In other words, are you aware of the unique impact you make in your office and how others perceive you? If you want a management position in your future, you should. That’s because emerging leaders must possess strong self-awareness…If you haven’t yet uncovered your brand or your strengths, try taking a 360-degree feedback survey or asking a trusted manager, mentor, or colleague to describe how he or she thinks you’re perceived by others. Listen for positive traits that are referenced more than once, and then aggressively seek out opportunities to apply those strengths.” This tip is great for so many reasons! In order to be a leader in your workplace community, you have to first learn how you fit into the organization’s needs. Both the research and implementation of your leadership efforts serve as ways to actively engage with those around you rather than just passively planning. 

 

Yun Siang Long and Kelly Kuehn at Work It Daily also offer up a way to take others into account while still setting yourself apart: “Be Open To Receiving Feedback. Be open to criticism, otherwise you are just living off your own opinions and ideas. What does being open to criticism mean? When you are open to feedback, you are getting ideas and suggestions from others that are free. Often times, these ideas come from people smarter than you. They will give you tips on how to improve and how to be better. That’s what a leader needs—constant feedback…With no new ideas, a leader dries up.” This trick is also a great way to model the behavior you’ll want to see from the rest of your team. Witnessing you being able to roll with the punches will help your colleagues understand that they can’t take professional criticism personally—which is a key component of being a workplace leader!

 

A key component of both of these methods is to actively connect with your professional environment rather than sitting back and waiting for something to happen. When your colleagues are inspired by the energy displayed through your actions, they’ll want to get on your level—and you can then work together to make your professional environment the best that it can be. So let your guiding light shine!

 

 
 
Image retrieved from Pixabay under the public domain.
 

This posting is brought to you by Contemporaries Inc., one of the best temp agencies in Boston MA. Also available for payrolling employees in Boston and Greater Boston

Recent Posts

A Little Bit of Kindness Goes a Long Way in The Workplace

A Little Bit of Kindness Goes a Long Way in The Workplace

Author: Contemporaries Team Whether you are the first or last one through the door, exhibiting kindness can go a long way in terms of garnering respect, admiration, camaraderie, and reciprocity from your peers and supervisors. Individuals who are looking to get ahead...

Communication Can Be the Key to A Successful Career

Communication Can Be the Key to A Successful Career

Author: Contemporaries Team Have you ever noticed how well successful people are able to convey their visions, missions, and ideas? Most times, they do it flawlessly, whether it is in an intimate business meeting or a televised discussion in front of a crowd of...

Professional Accountability: A Personal Choice and Consequences

Professional Accountability: A Personal Choice and Consequences

Author: Contemporaries Team Numerous of articles have been written lately stating how a large majority of young candidates do not show up for job interviews, or even make it to the first day of work. This is not a trend which has been seen in past years, particularly...

No I in Team is True in Workplace

No I in Team is True in Workplace

Author: Contemporaries Team As the late great Contemporaries, Inc. co-worker Cullen Buckland used to say, "There is no I in Team." The beauty of Cullen was that he practiced what he preached, always offering to help and pitching in whenever someone else in the office...

Starting the New Year on a Positive Note Can Make A Big Difference

Starting the New Year on a Positive Note Can Make A Big Difference

Author: Contemporaries Team Annually, individuals hoping to improve their lives, often set themselves up for failure by jotting down a laundry list of new expectations through their New Year’s Resolutions. Even if they achieve some of their objectives, by not tackling...

The Joys of Having a Pet

The Joys of Having a Pet

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo When COVID-19 hit in 2020, people all around the United States felt scared, confused, and isolated. Individuals had to stay indoors all the time, missing out on many experiences such as making new friends, celebrating milestones, and other...

The Best Benefits of Working

The Best Benefits of Working

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Nowadays, pursuing a career can be tiresome, anxiety-inducing, and stressful. You may lose focus of the brighter side which comes from all the benefits of landing a job.  They include financial freedom, a new purpose in your life, and...

Business Manners in the Workplace

Business Manners in the Workplace

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Business Etiquette is a practical and fundamental skill everyone should use while working on a job. Exercising this practice will help advance your career and boost your likability amongst colleagues and employers alike. The best path to...

Using a College Graduate’s Habits Key to Virtual Work Success

Using a College Graduate’s Habits Key to Virtual Work Success

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Imagine, you have just been hired for your first remote job and your team leader has given you a mountain of work which you’re not sure you will ever be able to complete. The tasks seem daunting and although you feel you’ve been at it all day,...

Flexibility is the Key to Workplace Greatness

Flexibility is the Key to Workplace Greatness

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo If you are trying to advance your career, being flexible is the key to success. This concept certainly applies when you are working in a new contract position. During this time, you’ll wear many hats and juggle ever-changing conditions that...

Tips to Use Your Time Wisely to Successfully Land a Job

Tips to Use Your Time Wisely to Successfully Land a Job

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Job hunting has become so much easier since the days when you had to look at a newspaper daily to see who was hiring. Now, there are staffing firms like Contemporaries, Inc., and websites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and GlassDoor to help you...

Gen Z’s Top Five Job Hunting Essentials

Gen Z’s Top Five Job Hunting Essentials

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Gen Z is the newest and largest group of job hunters that are currently in the market. They are recent graduates, hungry for new opportunities, and want to change the typical nine to five job blueprint. Here are the Top Five Requirements of...

The Power of Positivity in the Workplace

The Power of Positivity in the Workplace

Whether you are a recent college graduate or a seasoned pro who has been in the workforce for years, why not try incorporating the power of positivity into your daily routine? It won’t take much effort on your part, but will set a better tone for the day. While you...