As I started in my career, I made sure I took every opportunity to help. Most of my co-workers said I was silly to do this. Making comments like “They’re not paying you for that,” “That’s not your job,” “Why are you staying late to do that?” I would smile as I heard this, and my response was always (and still is) “I’m happy to help.” I knew my hard work would eventually help me get promoted. And it did by:
1. Pushing me to learn new skills that were outside of my job descriptions.
My coworkers were right, some tasks I was doing was not within my job description. I didn’t mind doing those tasks, though, because it gave me the ability to learn new skills. Skills that could be added to my resume for my future career or my next promotion. Learning is NEVER a bad thing, it only improves your personal brand and overall value. By learning these new skills I was able to easily position myself for my next position by executing tasks that were beyond my realm, and showing that I could handle the challenge.
2. Providing me with visibility to executives that I otherwise would not have been exposed to.
By me going out of my way to help, I got tremendous exposure to executives on a daily basis. To the point that managers outside of my department and the executive team knew me by name. I could have been just a coordinator that did my work and went home on time. But I knew, if I was going to make it, I needed a team supporting and cheering me on. I wanted not only my boss to know what I was capable of, but also other managers and executives as well. This was meaningful to me because even when I’m not in the room I need others to speak highly of me. We often underestimate the impact that these individuals have on our career or our next promotion.
Well, they had a major impact on mine. I didn’t have to ask for a promotion because other managers and executives were fighting on my behalf. These managers and executive, outside of my department, would advocate my boss about why I should be promoted. Telling my boss things like “You don’t get an employee like this every day make sure you’re giving her what she needs to stay on board.” “Why haven’t you promoted her yet?” Those words made it so much easier for me to get multiple raises and promotions without putting up much of a fight.
3. Gaining the trust of my co-workers and boss
Gaining trust gets you pulled closer to the in-circle. I know, I know that takes you back to high school; but believe it or not, there’s definitely an in-circle in the corporate world. I like to think of this circle as the protected. The individuals that get the warning before a major change, or get to have input in major decisions.
Trust is a major value and a key to success. With trust, you are given more liberty and freedom to go outside of the box and push the limits. Once I gained the trust of my boss, I was able to provide more of my input to make changes and implement a new procedure that may have not previously been accepted. By successfully implementing these new procedures, it was easy for my boss to see my qualifications for a promotion.
Simply put, my willingness to help got me New Skills + Executive Support + Trust, which ultimately helped me get promoted. I’ve received additional benefits, raises, and promotions on a regular basis and I truly believe that one of the reasons why is the ability to humble myself and help. I’m glad I didn’t give into the pressure and just do my job and go home. That would have definitely been the easier route but less beneficial in the long run. Don’t underestimate the value of the kindness. This simple virtue may just be the key you need to advance in your career.
