Becoming The Go-To Guy Or Gal At Work

You know that one person at work you can always rely on to know the right answer or to show you how to navigate a difficult process - right away. He or she often works hard, stays late, and sometimes sacrifices a day off to relieve a co-worker, but no one has a stronger job security, brighter prospects for advancement per industry, or commands more respect in the company. While you cannot become the go-to person overnight, you can plant the seeds and cultivate them as you grow. Here are several ways to become truly integral to the team:

1. Be good at what you do. Simple, right? Often we assess our successes/failures at work by what we have completed impeccably. If you're not doing your job well, then no one else will think you are worth the expert status you seek. Take care of the basics first before you start beating your chest.

2. Step forward. Want to be seen in a positive light regarding your performance? Volunteer your talents and time. Not every manager will recognize your expertise; in times of tough projects, step up and throw your hats in the ring joyfully. Keep in mind that since not every project undertaken is going to be a winner, each project is a step closer to greater things. Being reluctant to step forward can also show a lack of self-confidence as well as creating a sense of resentment among your team members.

3. Don't overdo it. Do not let your willingness to help out become greed for more work. It is one thing to be a spectacular subject-matter expert, and another to become a workaholic. I know this from personal experience, so trust me. Prolonged overachieving will lead to burnout, causing you to be passed over for promotions that you have worked so hard to attain.

4. Read like hell! Knowing how to use technology is almost as simple as learning how to read. Practice takes, of course, practice. This can be as simple as testing all of the latest electronics gear a big-box retailer may have in stock, or as difficult as working through a compiler. The more you know, the more respected you become. It wouldn't hurt to stay current on industry trends, so read articles, subscribe to magazines, listen to podcasts, etc.

5. Articulate your message. You can be the smartest guy in the room - more often than not, I feel like I am - but if no one understands what is being said, then you just wasted a lot of time talking. Take a page from tech support. While those representatives are masters of explanation, one quality they do possess is a listening ear. What is the need? How do you resolve it? Are they really listening, or chiming an "mm-hmm" every nineteen seconds solely to pretend like they are to appease you? You are better served with people who figured out how to clearly present a message; knowing everything means nothing if others cannot reap the benefits of your knowledge.

6. Own up. Becoming a go-to person at work means not being perfect, but admitting mistakes and acknowledging your limitations. You've already proven yourself to be reliable, capable, willing, honest, and accountable; if something happens, you are in a position to take responsibility. Do it and learn from your mistakes.

7. Broaden your horizons. People can't count on you if they don't know who you are. You may come as well-regarded among the people you work closely with, but building a reputation means branching out from those nearest you. That means put yourself out there. I'm not just saying create a LinkedIn account, but sometimes doing the things after-hours such as participating in office events (the softball team, potluck) as well as learning - and remembering the names of those you meet. Everyone has a purpose, and his or her six degrees of separation may be enough for you to be invited to join cross-departmental teams to highlight your strengths when called to do so.

8. Support. Growing up poor, my parents at times failed to understand why they needed to spend money for computers, graphing calculators, compiler systems if that implement would have to be replaced in a few short years. Their reasoning was because they didn't use it, maybe I could work through it without relying on a short-term yet pricey crutch. Obviously I had their undying love and support, but that checkbook stayed shut even after I began working part-time to pay for these objects. The same Mickey Mouse calculator I received as a seventh birthday present could not graph matrices nor calculate moles, meaning I had to get the understanding through constant repetition and having to open my own wallet.

The most cost-effective thing you can do is get a mentor. Find someone whom you get along with and is competent at what they do, and pick their brains. Again, you don't know everything, so ask questions. You're not expected to become a best-buddy instantly, but making the time available is critical in your development - and eventually becoming the go-to person at work.

While it is difficult to become a go-to person at work, the designation becomes even more tedious to shake off once it is affixed to you. Make sure you are ready for the additional responsibilities it will entail; those no-work vacations and unplugging from the laptop/tablet/smartphone will become even more important once then team starts depending on you as well as getting quality rest.