4 Ways to stand out

Looking to get ahead in the workplace? Get the recognition you deserve with these foolproof tactics.

whether you’re gunning for a promotion at your nine-to five or trying to bolster your side hustle, it often feels impossible to make your mark. But fear not, Renée Mauborgne, coauthor of Blue Ocean Shift (Pan Macmillan; R368), has helped companies around the world stand out, and she’ll share how you can, too.

Define your career objectives

Ask yourself, “What do I love to do?” and answer honestly. Go for the job you know you’ll enjoy, as opposed to the career that seems enviable. If you’re passionate, you’ll be willing to put in the work, and then you’ll be capable of almost anything.

Shift from competing to creating

Most people look at what their peers are doing and then try to do it better. When you do this, competition sets your agenda, which in turn leads to imitation, not innovation. Instead, focus on doing things differently from everyone else.

Eliminate actions that don’t help you get ahead

So much of what we do adds little value to our lives, yet takes up a tremendous amount of our time. Rather than adding more to your plate in hopes of standing out, think, ‘Of the things I’m currently focusing on, what can I eliminate to create space for something that would make a bigger impact?’

Build your army

Most people view the professional world as a win-lose: my win is someone else’s loss. But, all else being equal, the person who has the most coworkers cheering for them often becomes the one who gets promoted. If you’re helping others do well, you become more valuable to them, which will have a positive impact on you. Then it’s not just you pushing for your success – you’ll have a whole army of people behind you.