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Make an impact in seven steps

Great people are honoured with majestic statues, others get a Google doodle. Major roads are named after freedom fighters; people who somehow made an impact on the development of the country.

Not all of us will receive state commendations for doing what we do best, but we can still make an impressive impact at our places of work.

The job market is becoming increasingly competitive. With thousands having already lost their jobs this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, those who were lucky enough to keep theirs have to go above and beyond to differentiate themselves from others. We have to employ means for the employer not to want to let us go.

Be a person of value

“Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value,” goes a quote by Albert Einstein. Becoming a person of value simply means that you show usefulness in the workplace. Your importance has to be felt.

The more valuable you are, the more influence you have over others. But how can one contribute immensely when they aren’t at the expert level yet? Not having “enough” experience should not limit your ability to challenge the status quo if it is no longer beneficial to the company.

Many fall into the false assumption that you need to play safe; the “listen and watch mode.” For you to influence others, you have to invest in personal growth. Develop your knowledge and skills to reason intelligently with peers.

Valuable people are driven by their purpose and passion regardless of their position in the organogram. They embrace a life-long pursuit of personal development.

Spearhead new ideas

One way to set yourself apart from your colleagues is to raise the resourcefulness bar higher. Become so passionate with your goals to break ground with new ideas. Be the one to blaze the trail of creative solutions.

Find what’s missing and step outside yourself to solve it. Have a genuine interest in problem-solving and stay authentic. Strive to add a touch of excellence in all you do. Your ideas may not be perfect, but they will demonstrate a touch of class when forwarded with facts and logic.

Get people on board

In order to make a considerable impact, you need all the support you can get. Create your own internal network. Engage colleagues with diverse capabilities with the intention of tapping into a wide range of ideas. You will miss out immensely if you decide to work in a vacuum.

If you notice a senior manager who seems interested in your projects, explore the idea of them providing resources for your goals. Not only will this boost your credibility, but it will also help you prepare for any resistance that you may come across.

Be wise enough not to give undue power to investors without the company’s best interests at heart.

Anticipate issues

One of the reasons companies keep making profits is their level of preparedness. The deep understanding of market trends enables staff to forecast problems and be responsive to them.

Instead of waiting to solve problems by crisis, pay attention to re-emerging issues, analyse patterns, identify potential pitfalls and set plans in motion to deal with them.

Welcome competition

When you want to make an impact, do not be afraid of competition. It keeps you on toes. No matter how brilliant we are, there is always someone who will reason better than us.

There is always something you can learn from your competition. No one is immune from imitation and competition.

Communicate

Save your manager and colleagues from rumours and speculation. Update them of the progress of your work or new projects. Keeping people informed entices them to air their point of view.

Constant information flow can also indicate whether or not you are moving in the right direction. Keep conducting regular check-ins with your projects and celebrate milestones no matter how small they seem.

Exude positivity

A positive mindset will help set a happier ambience at work. Read and understand the climate of your company and stay accountable.

Stay out of the rumour mill and adapt yourself to the team surrounding you. Be the person that supports colleagues and guides the juniors.

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Value Life impact