Working in a professional environment requires you to put in hard work and deliver quantity or quality, or preferably both.

You may have monthly, quarterly or annual targets to reach and if you do not achieve these you will not be deemed successful. However, your work is not the sole criteria that you will be judged on when it comes to climbing the professional ladder.

This page discusses what it takes to make an impression at work and how to get that much-deserved promotion.

Here’s how you can be a top performer who your company chooses to promote to the next level.

Consistency is the Key

Without a doubt, top performers are characterized by hard work.

But there is a further characteristic they demonstrate that is instrumental in taking them to the top and that is consistency. Consistent workers add value to the company as they are more reliable. Come what may, they complete their job without fail and senior managers can depend upon them when they need to get the work done, which is why they are given more responsibility. In order to show that you are ready for promotion, you will need to perform consistently.

Remain Positive

Nobody wants to be around someone who keeps cribbing. So, stop being the 'Negative Nancy' of your team.

Top performers who wish to grow must create a friendly aura around them and contribute to a happy and positive environment. They should be self-motivated and upbeat about finding quick solutions to problems. So, make sure you focus on the positives. If you are not naturally optimistic, train yourself to be so. Cut down on any negative talk, distance yourself from negative colleagues, stop complaining and answer your boss’s questions with a ‘yes’ rather than a ‘no’.

Start Taking the Initiative

Performers know their job and do it well.

However, appraisal is not the time to just do the usual. You must work harder and find new ways to prove yourself and add value. You have to think outside the box and take initiatives. But, before you start going out of your way to be nice to your seniors and doing the extra work, make sure your regular work is taken care of.

It is best to start a new project only after you have completed all your pending work.

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Be the Ideal Leader

Leadership is a prerequisite for promotion.

Being an effective leader is the most important requirement when you wish to climb the professional ladder. Many professionals confuse being a leader with being a good manager, but the two are not the same.

You do not necessarily need to be a manager to be a leader. To lead your team you must care about your team mates, gain their confidence and be in the grand scheme of things.

Be a Dedicated Follower Too!

Now this may seem contrary to the point above but star performers must have the potential to be good followers too.

It is obviously important to have the capability of a leader but, in an organizational hierarchy, it is important that you are also willing to follow what your seniors say. A good orator should also be a good listener and similarly a good leader must also be a good follower. This way you can better understand what a team requires from its leader.

Stay Kind

With power comes great responsibility.

You should have the kindness and empathy for doing what’s right and beneficial for your subordinates. This does not mean you stop being firm or stop holding people accountable. If you truly wish to see people perform well and yet wish to be kind at the same time, you have to hold people to high standards for them to develop.

Learn to Say ‘No’

It may sound like the opposite of the previous point about being open to new ideas and taking on more responsibilities but you should have the courage to say NO when it is necessary. Star performers must be good at prioritizing work and events. Time management is crucial. But for that, you must be able to determine what’s urgent and what’s not. This way you can do more in less time. Only then will you be effective and worthy of promotion.

Know your Strengths and Weaknesses

This is important because unless you know your strong points you can’t flaunt them, and unless you know your flaws you can’t work on them.

Potential managers are aware of their strengths and weaknesses and address them well. To be considered for promotion, you must know yourself inside out. Know where you require improvement and what training or resources can help you boost your chances of professional growth.

Be Patient, Adapt and Overcome

If you’re willing to be considered for promotion, you need to make sure your bosses see you as a strong individual with endurance. You should have the ability to adapt to all sorts of situations. In order to grow, you will have to learn new things and challenge yourself. Improvisation and social skills will help you boost your own value.

To sum it up, don’t go around over-promoting yourself. Just let your good work do the talking. All the best!

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