Month: October 2017

Becoming the go-to employee for a department and/or company is tough. There are many benefits for workers who are considered the best by their managers. The easy answer to becoming a top performer is to get your work done on time, with little guidance, and without throwing a fit. However, there is more to it, so I will provide more depth.

Make Sure to be Receptive to Work
I’ve been to many meetings where leaders and managers are looking for volunteers to participate on mission-critical projects. Surprisingly, there are often few takers. In most cases, the work is assigned because no one is willing to step up to the plate.

A good approach is to be proactive. I recommend that you stay connected with your manager. You can take this angle: “Hi, Nicole … I heard that that the leaders are looking for people to participate on the compliance project. I wanted to let you know that I will make the time to be on the team. I understand that I must keep up my regular work, and that will not be a problem.”

Managers appreciate it when people volunteer for work, especially projects that are of high-value to the organization. Let’s assume that you’re not selected for the project because you lack the unique experience and skills required. You can rest assured that your manager will be pleased with your commitment to do what it takes to help the company do well.

Stay Away from the Petty Stuff
The most successful people in any organization operate at a level that is free from pettiness. They are focused on the work that must get done. When someone falls shorts of expectations, they avoid blaming the person. Instead, they go to the individual and ask how they can help with future work.

It’s smart to take a problem-solving approach. When most people are complaining about why they’re not advancing, we can take a proactive approach to finding the answers. I want to remind you that one’s compensation is based on the level of problems they solve. The easier it is to find a solution, the less one will make. However, the people who solve the big problems earn the highest possible pay.

The Game Plan
Before you decide to become a top performer, you must know that it will increase the level of work that you perform. Also, at some point, you will be assigned highly-visible work, which means that you will interact with high-level people. The benefits of doing this type of work is obvious, but be aware that there is little room for error.

To get the ball rolling, look for opportunities to volunteer on projects. Your manager will know if you can handle the work. If the manager has doubts that you are ready for the work, but you feel that you are, make your case. There’s a big need for individuals who are willing to accept challenges. As you get busier with work that is valuable to the organization, you will realize that you no longer have time for the petty stuff that plagues many organizations. This is when you know that you’re heading in the right direction.

I was recently asked to call a potential client at his office. When the day came for me to reach out to this person, I made the phone call. His secretary, Carmen, answered the phone on the second ring, and I asked for Dan.

CARMEN: “I’m sorry Dan is not in the office.”

ME: “Oh! He told me to call him at 10:00 a.m.”

CARMEN: “He called early this morning, and said that he had a flat tire on the way to work, so he decided to get it fixed today. My guess is that he’ll make it to work tomorrow.”

ME: “Must have been a terrible flat tire to keep someone from coming to work all day. I hope he wasn’t hurt.”

CARMEN: “He’s fine! This is the second flat tire he’s had in the past month. The last time he was out a couple of days because it took time to get the car up-and-running.”

ME: “It seems like Dan is having some bad luck this summer. Okay, please let him know that I called.”

CARMEN: “I have your number, and will put the note on his desk. You can also email him, but he’s way behind checking his Inbox.”

ME: “Sure, Carmen! I do appreciate your help. Thanks!”

CARMEN: “Bye!”
My Take on this Situation
From what I could observe, I think Dan is not very happy with this employment. It would seem to me that a flat tire can be fixed in a matter of hours. In fact, it’s weird that someone would fail to show up merely because the tire has lost its air. Even if the tire needed replacement, that can’t take a too long. The worst-case scenario is a half-day to get the problem resolved.

Call with Dan
I called a few days later, and I was surprised when Carmen informed me that Dan was at work. She was going to transfer the call right away. I mentioned to Dan that I was sorry to hear about the flat tire, and that I hoped all was well now. He apologized for not returning my calls and emails, and we continued our discussion.

Dan mentioned that he would run my proposal by his supervisor. He was happy with the bundle of services that we offered, and he noted our price was competitive. He was adamant I would hear from him in about a week.

A Week Later
The next week came and went, and I didn’t hear from Dan. After giving him another few days, I called his office, and Carmen promptly answered the phone.

ME: “Hi, Carmen! I’m looking for Dan.”

CARMEN: “He’s not here today … sorry.”

ME: “What happened? Flat tire?”

CARMEN: “Nope … he called and said his headlights are out.”

ME: “Can’t he drive during the day?”

CARMEN: “I also think he’s driver’s license has expired.”

ME: “Okay! Got it! I’ll wait to hear from him.”

CARMEN: “Sure … bye.”

I found out later that Dan left this company. I’m unsure what he’s doing now, but I do hope that his car has four working tires, the headlights are nice and bright, and that his driver’s license is current.