9 Ways To Grow Your Reputation And Position Yourself To Make An Impact At Work (1 of 5 in series)

How can I convince my boss to let me take on a ‘going green’ project?

I’m low on the totem pole, so to speak, but have some great ideas about how our organization could make a positive impact in our community – what can I do?

I don’t have a budget and want to implement a composting project at my organization – where do I start?

What to do if you want to make an impact but you’re not in charge?

I’ve received multiple questions about starting social or environmental projects in the workplace from individuals who aren’t in charge. The good news is that there are many ways that you can do this, and I will be addressing a few of these in this and subsequent blog posts.

The first place to start is with your work – what you signed up to do by taking on the job that you have. If you build a solid reputation for being great at what you do, and you get your boss’ attention, then she/he is more likely to listen to and entertain your project suggestions.

Of course, this should be something that you aspire to regardless of whether you are looking to make an impact on the planet or your community. Your reputation is your personal brand, and if you don’t have a good reputation at work, your boss and your colleagues are less likely to listen to you, not to mention that you likely won’t get promoted or given interesting projects.

So how do you build a great reputation at work and get upper management’s attention? Here are nine ideas to use as a starting point:

1. Put in the work 

When you’re new or more junior in an organization, you need to show that you know your stuff. You may also be asked to complete tasks that you feel are ‘beneath you’ or a waste of time. Do them to the best of your abilities anyway.  If you don’t get the ‘cool’ project you wanted, remember that you need to acquire experience and prove that you can do that type of project. There is a reason why you weren’t assigned that project – figure out what it is and how you can address it the next time around.

2. Be independent

While it’s important to ask clarifying questions about a project and make sure you are on the right track, don’t ask your boss about every single little detail. Make a list of your questions and identify what you can research and what you can ask colleagues about. Your boss will appreciate that you can do things on your own, and as a bonus, you will be building relationships with others in the organization.

3. Take the initiative

Ask your boss what you can help with. If you've already identified a project that is important to your boss, suggest specific ways you could help on that project. This may mean putting in a little extra time in addition to your regular workload, but it will be well worth it in the long run.

4. Be diplomatic

While you may be friendly with your colleagues, remember that those relationships are first and foremost work relationships. Choose your words carefully when sharing personal information or when asked for an opinion. This is the case whether it’s during a meeting, at lunch or after work.

5. Look for solutions

Work can be tough, you may be under a lot of stress with your workload and deadlines, but complaining will not make your problems go away. Instead of complaining, identify solutions.  If you are the one who is seen as addressing problems instead of getting sucked in by them, you will be seen as a leader and your supervisor and colleagues will likely appreciate it.

6. Find ways to help

Ask your colleagues what you can do to help – and mean it! If one of your colleagues needs some extra help, offer your assistance if you are able to help. Spending a few minutes here and there supporting your colleagues in addition to the work that you are assigned can go a long way to earning goodwill.

7. Be humble

While it’s important to show that you are capable of not only doing your work but excelling at it, coming across as a show-off or arrogant will backfire. When you are good at what you do, the results speak for themselves and you won’t need to convince anyone.

8. Own up to mistakes

We all make mistakes, and while we would prefer to avoid them, taking ownership of the mistakes we make by graciously admitting to them instead of getting defensive or making excuses also speaks to the type of person you are.

9. Be patient

Building your reputation takes time and is never ‘done’. Be patient with yourself and others during this process and enjoy the journey.

Now that you have built up a good reputation and your boss trusts the work that you do, you are more likely to have her/his ear.

In the next blog, I’m looking at four steps to align with your boss’ goals and get your impact project approved.

To get started right away, download our free ’51 Ways To Make An Impact When Not In Charge’ and begin positioning yourself to make an impact today!