Navigating corporate realities - Effortless ways to go the extra mile for greater opportunities

A recent conversation with a former team member who did not receive the promotion they had applied for made me remember that, whether we like it or not, the workplace can sometimes feel like a marketplace - everyone trying to prove their worth and all going after the same opportunities. A lot of times, these chances only come in packages of one (one opening for the role of manager/team leader etc.) with many suitable candidates trying to find the golden ticket. If you’ve ever been in this situation, you’ve realized that it takes more than just ticking the boxes to get noticed.

Before moving any further, I want to highlight that this article applies to companies that don't resort to dubious practices, like expecting you to take on a dual role without fair compensation or granting promotions based solely on subjective reasons. If you're in such a situation, the wisest choice might be to look for a new company to work for as soon as possible.

A common mistake that I’ve noticed is solely focus on the goal and ignoring our competition. The reality is that the landscape is very rarely dry - most likely, there are always several qualified individuals eying the same position. If there’s only one opportunity, what sets someone apart?

Here’s a simple scenario to illustrate this. Your job is to produce ten cups per day, at certain quality standards. Consistently, you meet this target and occasionally outdo yourself by delivering an extra cup. As an exemplary employee, you feel confident when a senior role opens up and put in your application. However, the promotion does not go to you. Why?

It could be because there were others just like you who occasionally made 11 cups. Or perhaps someone else could easily make 11 cups each day. Maybe there was someone else whose cup-making skills weren't quite as proficient, but their knowledge, passion, and ideas for optimizing the process/decreasing costs/increasing efficiency impressed the decision-makers.

So how can you set yourself apart effortlessly, while still retaining your authentic self? Here’s a five steps you can try:

1. Consistently delivering quality work and results. This reliability not only earns you trust but also shows your capacity to handle responsibilities.

2. Discover your passion. Identify what you enjoy doing or really want to achieve and try to get better or more knowledgeable at it. If possible, volunteer for projects where you can apply these skills and make a difference. Volunteering for such initiatives will not only let you apply your expertise in real-world scenarios but also broaden your experience in your area of excellence. Remember, you're not just accumulating knowledge, but also demonstrating its practical application. Knowledge, proof of practical application of this knowledge, as well as keeping in mind that a lot of these skills are transferrable to other roles and other companies will lead to increased chances.

3. Broaden your scope. Understand the dynamics of other teams. Understand how your team fits into the overall picture. Attend all-hands meetings and get a grasp of the bigger picture.

4. Share your knowledge and ideas. If you notice a trend in your job such as a customers complaining about something new, bring it up. If you accompany this by a suggestion on how this can be improved, even better.

5. Prepare Thoroughly. Before going for an internal role, gather as much information about the expectations and the problems the new role seeks to address. Use the interview to demonstrate how you can solve these issues effectively, perhaps even better than an outsider.

Let's circle back to our earlier example. You've consistently met your production targets while adhering to the quality standards. This has gained you trust from your team and peers (step 1). Suppose you've discovered that what truly excites you about the cup manufacturing process is the range of materials that can be utilized, and understanding the unique advantages of each (step 2).

By attending company-wide meetings, networking with colleagues at corporate events, and remaining open-minded and receptive to what goes on around you, you become aware of the company's interest in potentially diversifying its cup offerings to break into the luxury dishware market. It's not your responsibility to entirely solve this challenge, but you can contribute insights (step 3).

Imagine if, during an interview or conversation with your manager, stakeholders, or at a company event, you mentioned this innovative ceramic material suitable for crafting more upscale, sophisticated cups and how you think it could add value to the company and its customers (steps 4 & 5). Without taking on an extraordinarily amount of extra work or significant time commitments, such contributions could distinguish you from your peers and reinforce your value to the team or even the organization.

Job markets, internal and external, are competitive. Demonstrate your competency and reliability, broaden your scope of understanding, follow your passion, and come well-prepared to tackle the challenges of the new role. It's this 'extra' that could give you the edge in securing the opportunities you desire.