The corporate environment is often one filled with competition. This can often make it feel like you are drowning while trying to distinguish yourself. There are various reasons you may want to stand out at work including a desire for a raise, being able to take on more responsibility, or simply to improve job security. Here are five ways to stand out at work. 

Be Enthusiastic

Think about the types of coworkers you’ve enjoyed working with in the past. Chances are they weren’t ones who always had a negative attitude. Work to show forth a positive demeanor while at work. 

Enthusiasm is infectious, and this can improve the working environment and make you well-liked by peers and noticed by supervisors. Obviously, this isn’t to say you need to be overly positive at all times but taking a positive approach even when experiencing challenges and setbacks will establish you as someone with the right attitude to succeed. 

Create a Niche

Everyone has specific strengths and skills that they can use to really stand out. Take some time to reflect on yours. What knowledge and expertise do you have? What do coworkers often come to you for help with? Identify some things you do better than others. 

This is how you help identify your niche. Exert informal authority by leveraging your expertise to establish yourself as a go-to person for certain things. This will improve your value to your team and certainly help you to get noticed.

Offer Ideas

Many times, we can become engrossed in our day-to-day jobs and simply focus on getting things done or checking off a list. While your quality of work may make you stand out, this ignores an important way to contribute to your team. 

Be sure to offer ideas and suggestions for how your organization can improve whether this includes how to tackle a specific challenge or a way to improve an existing process. If you’ve worked at a place for a while, you surely have some valuable ideas.

Take Initiative & Be Proactive

There are certain things that employers look for when thinking about who to promote. Initiative is one of those things as this is a valuable skill that helps add synergy to the workplace. 

Don’t be afraid to speak up when you have a better way of resolving an issue. Additionally, if you have capacity, volunteer to take on additional projects. Being the person that often steps up when needed will certainly get you noticed.

Display Leadership

Leadership is by far the most critical skill in organizations as it is something that many people lack. Take time to improve your leadership development by attending workshops and reading books. 

Employ leadership skills in your daily work. You don’t have to have a formal leadership position to demonstrate these skills. Much of leadership is about relationship building and leading by example.

Final Thoughts 

If you are wanting to find even more ways to help you stand out at work, take a look at our free career resources that can help ensure you stay on track. Check out the link in the bio to download.