Have you ever felt like your job is a bit… boring? Maybe you’re doing the same old thing day in and day out. While it’s important to be good at your job, it’s also important to stand out. One way to do that is to go the extra mile.
WHAT DOES GOING THE EXTRA MILE MEAN?
It means doing more than what’s expected of you. Most employers are trying to do more with less. That means that it is probably not too hard to find some extra tasks to take on. Help your coworkers out and be proactive. It’s like being a superhero for your company!
So, You May Be Wondering Why You Should Go The Extra Mile?
Well, there are a few reasons why going the extra mile is a good idea:
- First of all, doing so shows initiative. When you volunteer to take on extra tasks, it shows your manager that you’re eager to learn and grow. The awesome thing about that is that you can take on new tasks for jobs other than your own. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not talking about taking on an entire new job in addition to your current job. I’m talking about taking on a couple of additional tasks that will not add additional hours to your work day.
- You help your team. When you help your coworkers out, you make their lives easier. You also contribute to the success of your team. It shows that you are a compassionate person and often leads to healthier workplace relationships. And guess what, your job probably will not feel as boring as it used to. Imagine that you’ll no longer dread going to work. Why? Because learning something new, or making a new friend at work, can make your work so much more interesting.
- New skills can lead to promotions or avoid layoffs. Imagine your employer telling everyone that they have to lay off employees because business is slow. While you’re learning and performing a few extra tasks each week, you are showing your flexibility and your ability to learn new things quickly. Doing so will also show that you care about the company that you work for, you take your work seriously, and that you are a problem-solver. And guess what!. Your manager sees your positive attitude towards your work. So, you just might avoid being laid off because you’ve consistently gone that extra mile to lend a helping hand where it’s needed. Believe it or not, you might not only avoid being laid off; but, you might land a promotion or other new opportunity.
HOW CAN YOU GO THE EXTRA MILE?
Here are five tips to get you started on your way to making greater impact at work and growing your career.:
- Ask for more responsibility. This tip may seem a bit strange. Why would anyone want to ask for more work? Won’t that make it seem like you don’t have enough to do? Weird, but true. Surprisingly, it will likely have the opposite effect. If you feel like you’re not being challenged enough, ask your manager for more work. This will help you stand out from the crowd of employees who do just enough to get by.
- Volunteer for projects. Don’t be afraid to raise your hand when there’s a new project or initiative. Management will appreciate your willingness to develop your skills even more and to take a risk. That’s what business success is all about. You will soon become the go-to person for answering questions and to solve problems, which is what management stock is made of.
- Help out your coworkers. Offer to help your colleagues with their tasks, even if it’s not your job. Adopting a whatever is necessary attitude to get the job done and to help others get their job done. Now, I’m not telling you to completely take their job over. I’m saying help them with any overflow work that they may have. Your efforts could make the difference between them being able to leave work at a decent time, versus
- Be proactive. Don’t wait to be told what to do. Take the initiative and find ways to improve your work. This will earn your manager’s trust because they will see you as someone who wants to make their life easier and make them look good. They will also notice that you don’t hoard what you know, but you readily share it with others for the benefit of the entire team, not just yourself.
- Learn new skills. Keep your skills up-to-date by taking classes or attending workshops. We should all be about the business of continuous learning and improvement. Anyone who is not is likely to be left behind. I see and hear it every day as people whom I run voice their reactions to artificial intelligence (AI). As you might imagine, some are excited about it and plan to embrace it fully. Then some are totally intimidated by it and have no plans of learning more about it. Learn how to use it to your advantage to make doing your job easier. Think about this quote that I heard recently, “AI is not a threat to your job, but your coworker who knows how to use it is.” I encourage you to not act as if your ignoring it will make it go away. Believe me, that won’t happen. Be the person who knows how to use it. Remember that investing in yourself is the best investment that you can make.
THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING
In case you’re from the “Show Me” state, let’s look at a few examples of how going the extra mile paid off big for two employees.
Example 1 is the Office Assistant Who Became a Project Manager
Just imagine that you’re an office assistant. Your job is to answer phones, file paperwork, and make coffee. But you’re not content with just doing the basics. You start to notice that your coworkers are struggling to organize their projects. So, you take the initiative to learn about project management software. You start using it to help your team, and they’re amazed at how much more efficient they’ve become. Your manager notices your hard work and promotes you to a project manager.
Example 2 is About The Sales Rep Who Became a Customer Service Superstar
You’re a sales representative for a clothing company. Your job is to sell clothes. But you also care about customer satisfaction. So, you go out of your way to help customers find the perfect outfit. You even follow up with them after they make a purchase to see if they’re happy with their purchase. Your excellent customer service skills make you a valuable asset to the company, and you’re eventually promoted to a customer service manager. Just WOW!!!
Example 3 is About the HR Manager Who Became the Associate Director of Human Resources
I joined my current organization in February 2017 as Human Resources Manager. I was a program manager with no direct reports. I and the HR Generalists and the HR Specialist reported to the Chief Human Resources Officer. Her position was so demanding, with frequent travel and a slammed calendar, that she wasn’t always readily available. So, the team started coming to me for guidance regarding work-related matters. As I became more and more familiar with my position and the organization, the team sought my guidance more often. I happily served as a resource to them in our manager’s absence. As a result, I gained my manager’s trust to lead the team and was summoned to interact with Executives more often. Then, in November 2018, I got the unexpected surprise that I had been promoted to Assistant Director of Human Resources.
Example 4 is About The Statistical Coordinator, Who Became the Department’s Information Technology Pro
My husband joined his current employer as a Statistical Coordinator. He kept track of the money the hospital generated from performing patients’ medical procedures. His Vice President often needed specialized reports that she would ask my husband to request that IT generate them. Little did she know that he was a self-proclaimed computer geek who learned how to manipulate the system. As a result, he learned how to program the system to generate the reports that she needed. When she found out that he had been producing her reports without the IT department’s help, she rewrote his job description, promoted him to the Surgical Dept’s dedicated IT Analyst, and blessed him with a nice salary increase. This motivated him to pursue his Masters degree in IT Security.
Please Take Note: Going the extra mile doesn’t mean working yourself to the bone. It means being proactive, helpful, and passionate about your work. That is exactly what happened in each one of the above examples. So know that by following these tips, you can fast-track your career and achieve your goals.
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