Go the extra mile Show everyone what youre made of

Go the extra mile Show everyone what youre made ofGo the extra mile Show everyone what youre made ofSelf-Assessment Quiz - TRUE or FALSEIm aware of how much extra work I can manage to take on at work.I enjoy being a team player and taking on leadership roles at work.Being more visible at work is in line with my career goals.Do you want to shoot to the top in your career? Do you want to stand out to your boss? Do you want to be an exemplary employee that people trust and want work with? Add paper to the copier.What the what?Yes. Add paper to the copier When you go the extra mile at work, whetherbei youre new to the company just starting out in the mail room or have advanced to assistant communications manager, people leidice the little things you do, likehelping the entire teamby adding paper to the copier. Think about it, if everyone walks by the empty copier and grumbles, Thats not my job what happens? Productivity slows down, people get irritated and team morale goes down just a ti ny bit over something which takes two minutes to fix. By taking this sort of initiative, youre actually showing everyone what youre working with fortitude, leadership, awareness, ability and desire to go the extra mile.Depending on the situation, going the extra mile can feel likesucking up, but sucking up aint always a bad thing. Especially when done right. If youre in a meeting and your boss asks for a volunteer to compile a spreadsheet of the attendees to last years company fundraiser gala, think about raising your hand. Sure, youre busy like everyone else and clearly that aint your job because you work in finance and headcounts aint sales.BUT can it be? If you work on this list, youll have an inside look at who attended the fundraiser which means youll have an inside look at who gave funds or was open to giving. You can use this info to create ideas to get more sales for the company. Ding Ding Winning Youve just helped your boss (which through this project may also get you more career-enhancing face time with her) and who knows, maybe youve helped out Jill in auffhrung planning who would have jumped off a bridge if given one more project today. Jill may then give you her extra tickets to a gala fundraiser art opening which could mean networking and future growth for youGoing the extra mile, isnt of course always as easy as filling up the copier. Or volunteering for unassigned tasks. Its thinking beyond what you were asked to do. Nothing pisses a boss off more than handing out assignments and getting backexactlythat which was asked of the assignee. Confusing? Doesnt have to be.Look at it this way bosses love working with team members whosimplifyher life the most. People who take the project they have been assigned and run with it. Make it their own. Without any drama or unnecessary complications. That PowerPoint deck from last year I asked you to update because I dont have the time? You not only updated the charts that were outdated, but youanimatedthe enti re deck too? And added an appropriate video? You just made me look smarter than I am. I LOVE you for that Compare this to your colleague who got the same task and sent me her comments embedded in the deck about the changes shesuggestsmaking, replete with five paragraphs foreachcomment justifyingwhyshe is suggesting these changes in the first place. Oy Vey. Bosses dont need alla that We dont want to know all the background details you had to wade through to make the magic happen. We just want the magic. I dont want to know it took you 15 emails to find the person who had the answer to your question. I dont want to be copied on all 15 of those emails either And I dont want to know, unless I ask, that you stayed up until 4 am making that presentation literally sing. I just want the job done. Really well. You become the bosses pet when you up the ante with badass moves such as this. And this shows up in our bonus conversations. I start looking at you differently and asking you what your career goals are. Because, now Im vested in helping you move up. I can see your star power and potential.When you do that extra somethin somethin at work, you are demonstrating that you are a leader. Leadership is key to success and moving up the corporate ladder. (Pssst, heres aquiz on leadershipin case youre wondering how you stack up in this department.)However, newbie, do be aware of being dumped upon. Some bosses carry that corporate culture of churn and burn where they throw so much work at the capable achievers like you that adds incredible stress and ultimate burnout. You dont want this. Definitely consider the pros and cons of going the extra mile. If you have a boss who doesnt appreciate you - or even worse doesnt GIVE YOU CREDIT for all your hard work - you might need to take your ball and bat and head to a boss who isnt afraid to let your star shine. Look to your careerSMART goalsto help keep you on track.Now get on out there and start going beyondCheryl Grace is the sassy aunt, best friend, and mentor youve always needed in your life. The successful jet-setting, global corporate executive founded the aspirational lifestyle brand Powerful Penny LLC. Her products, workshops and speeches probe, inspire and empower to ensure those who really want to can get to their next level of best. Her blogs on careers, prosperity, relationships, family, looking and living fabulously, and living a five-star life can be found atwww.powerfulpenny.com.