We joke about robots taking over our jobs. “They can have it,” we say. But when a Google search returns about 841,000 results to my, “robots taking over jobs statistics,” query, we should seriously think about how we can add value to our employers. It’s not enough to just do the tasks in your job description. Your company expects you to contribute to its bottom line. You are an investment to them. They expect to get a return. If they get a good return on your work, you have grounds to ask for a raise and/or promotion, and you have a good reason to expect job security. Here are five things you can do to add value to your company:
Be Extra – Doing just a little bit more than what is expected of you can impress your manager in a big way. For example, one of my coworkers had an unfortunate coffee spill. And when I say unfortunate, I mean all over him, the walls, the window, and the carpet. The office smelled like latte for a week, which I loved. But coffee stains, so I searched the internet for carpet cleaning services and emailed my manager links to my top three choices. She didn’t ask, I just did it. It only took seven minutes. You don’t have to take on difficult projects to stand out. Taking the next logical, thoughtful, extra step leaves a good impression.
Pay Attention – Google your company. Read Activity Reports. Do a little reconnaissance. Is your company moving to a new software platform? Be the expert. Learn new skills on your own time. I’m taking a Mastering Excel class on lynda.com. I audited a financial accounting class from The Wharton School of Business. Neither of these cost me money. You should learn enough business acumen to ask intelligent questions and to look good at your next performance review. Why sit at your desk and try to look busy when you could actually be busy?
Be An Encourager – Did a coworker’s grandmother pass away? Buy a sympathy card and pass it around for everyone to sign. Did a Customer Service Representative bring a potential problem to your attention? Give her points using your company’s reward system. Life is about relationships. Companies don’t hire people. People hire people. You never know who will be in a position to hire you some day. Random acts of kindness are memorable. Make sure you have a reputation of lighting up the room when you walk into it instead of when you walk out of it.
Make Your Boss Look Good To Her Boss – This is not brown nosing. This is making your manager look smart for running a strong team that accomplishes major goals for the company. That spotlight is big enough to shine on you too. No one meets Key Performance Indicators by themselves and if your organization is not smart enough to recognize that, find one that does.
Be Part Of The Solution – One of my favorite lines from the television series Leverage is, “Don’t bring up a problem unless you have a fix.” Does your company have a vision statement? Make decisions using it as a filter. It’s way too easy to put the urgent before the important day after day after day after, well, you know. At least once a week, look at your task list and organize it using your company’s vision statement. Prioritize what is important to them. See a problem brewing? Formulate a solution before speaking up in Staff Meeting. You want to be known as a fixer, not a complainer.
Any suggestions on how to keep the robots from taking our jobs? Share them with me here: