If you have spent any length of time in the corporate world, you’ve realized that working hard does not create opportunity by itself. Business is incredibly competitive at every level. The people who advance know how to stand out in a good way. One of the easiest ways to create advancement opportunities is to stand out by being helpful. You are probably thinking, “Sure, but how?” So glad you asked! (Source)

The Magic Question

Most people work their ass off thinking that surely the boss is noticing and will reward them appropriately. This is a dangerous assumption. Most bosses are secretly suffering from overwork, underappreciation, a never-ending list of problems, and not enough time or energy to do anything about it. You might be totally killing it with your responsibilities as assigned, but your boss might be focused on 10 other huge problems you don’t even know about. Here’s the key! Ask how you can be helpful!

It’s so deceptively simple, yet no one ever does it. After my first decade in various leadership roles, I could still count on one hand the number of times an employee came in and asked me about what problems I was working on (stressing over) or how they could help. Everyone is so used to “staying in their lane” and “not bothering the boss” that they miss this huge opportunity. If you really want advancement opportunities, do something that actually matters to the boss. The normal 9-5 duties as assigned aren’t going to get you there, even if you’re awesome at them.

Why It Works

There are multiple reasons this incredibly simple strategy is also an incredibly effective way to create advancement opportunity.

1) No one else is doing it

It’s really hard to stand out in a group doing the exact same thing everyone else is doing. Do what others aren’t and you’ll automatically stand out. As long as it’s unique and you don’t burn the building down, even a mediocre performance will be memorable. A fantastic job can create advancement opportunities even beyond your own department.

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2) It makes the boss feel good

Do you remember the last time someone genuinely asked you if they could help? It feels pretty great. You want to score points with someone, try to genuinely help them. Even if you can’t solve any of the problems of the day, it’s awesome that you bothered to offer. Rest assured, there will be new problems tomorrow that you might be able to assist with.

3) Eliminates assumptions

This is where everyone goes wrong. Don’t assume you know what the boss needs. A good boss is like an umbrella that shields their team from the shit storm that rains down from upper management. You probably don’t know what’s on their plate unless you ask. Find out what is actually important and do it well!

4) Publicly displays your best qualities

When you want an opportunity, you need to show you can handle it. Volunteering to work on larger company challenges shows that you can handle bigger responsibilities than your typical 9-5 duties. It’s also your chance to showcase advanced skillsets that you may not get to demonstrate normally. Be strategic, be creative, and be helpful. Imagine the advantage you’ll have over your peers in interviews when you are already known for your ability and willingness to do higher-level work.

Mistakes to Avoid

There are just a few pitfalls to avoid that could undermine this strategy to create advancement opportunities. They are easy to avoid.

1) Don’t kill the special-ness / be annoying

It’s awesome to have someone genuinely step in and offer to help. If it’s at the right time, it could be a lifesaver. However, do not make this a daily routine. If you overdo this strategy, it can feel insincere and become annoying. Worse yet, your boss might start to expect your help rather than appreciate it, and you’ll find yourself with more work than you know what to do with.

2) Be careful not to create more work than you solve

Remember that the goal here is to be helpful by giving your boss a little room to breath. Avoid pursuing work that you have no idea how to perform. If it takes the boss more time to show you how to be helpful than to just to it themselves, you have just become a burden. Bosses are usually much busier than their staff realizes. This only works if you save them time and effort.

How to Create Advancement Opportunities

One idea you might try is helping with the reports that the boss is responsible for.

First, show some interest. Ask how you might learn more about the reports that monitor your department as part of your professional development. Spend time learning how the reports paint a picture of the department’s performance.

Then, learn how the boss uses them. Find out which reports the boss presents to other leaders in meetings and presentations. Ask which ones are the most useful or the most heavily scrutinized.

Next, offer to help. When you determine which reports the boss has to spend a lot of time preparing for meetings and presentations, offer to participate (to further your professional development in a useful way). The more you work with the reports, the more you’ll learn what to watch for.

Finally, be surprisingly helpful. Don’t just prepare the reports. Read them. Learn what the boss is watching for. What does a good month vs a bad month look like. If you notice a negative result, do a little research. Offer your insights when you turn in the report. As you build trust through this process, you may find yourself not only preparing the reports, but ultimately presenting them to leadership.

This strategy is all about being memorable for the right reasons. It creates an advantage over your competition for promotions and can open the door to joining your boss’s inner circle of trust. If you are struggling to find a way to implement this strategy or need some help opening doors, this is a great time to call your career coach and build a strategy.

Remember, being the boss is not as easy as it looks. If you are successful, you’ll be the person that helps your boss’s life suck a little less. It doesn’t get more memorable than that!

If you have a great strategy or story about making yourself memorable and opening doors, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

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