5 Habits of people who get promoted at work

Getting promoted takes more than just doing your job well. To move up the ladder in your career, you have to prove to decision makers and leadership that you are ready and deserving enough to take on more responsibility.

Though it may seem as if there are some people in the workplace who simply breeze their way up the corporate ladder, this is not the case. Chances are, the people you watch getting promoted aren’t just lucky or best friends with the boss. They have found success by following certain habits, some of which have been highlighted below:

Be a Team Player.

Team players are always more likely to get promoted than employees who are only focused on themselves. This is because employers don’t like when employees are focused on “I” rather than “we.” They want team players who are committed to helping the greater good of the team, which ultimately benefits the company. Demonstrate your ability to be a team player by pitching in to help without being asked, volunteering for a task, or working collaboratively with a group. Demonstrate that you’re invested in the greater good of the company, not just your own job.

Be Goal-Oriented

Setting and achieving goals is one of the easiest ways to demonstrate your abilities. Setting goals will show your manager that you’re focused on a plan and achieving them will prove that you’re capable. Also, be open about where you see yourself in 6-months or a year. A good boss will help you achieve these goals by giving you opportunities to grow and provide support to keep you on track. In many cases, he or she truly does want to see you achieve your goals.

Act like a Leader/ Show leadership potential

Showcase your leadership abilities even if you aren’t in a management role. The more you act like a leader, the easier it will be for your manager to envision you in a position of leadership. Acting like a leader is less about being bossy and more about showing leadership qualities like confidence, passion, trustworthiness, decisiveness, etc.

Keep Learning.

Take Initiative. Show your boss that you’re committed to continuously improving and developing your skills by finding learning opportunities, both within and outside of the office. Use your own money to attend seminars/conferences, take online courses and read books. Continuous learning shows that you are serious about your career.

Be Irreplaceable.

Make yourself indispensable at the workplace. Become the go-to person for something specific; for example, dealing with difficult clients or finding solutions to organizational problems. People in positions like this are not only in high demand by coworkers, but also by leadership because they naturally stand out as someone people are always looking for.