10 Ways To Be Unbeatable In The Office

Even if you’re not a woman working in a boys’ club, the workplace atmosphere can be political and competitive. Everyone wants the next promotion, to be considered for a raise or for the boss to highlight your work over your frenemy in the next cubicle over.

But how? How can you be the most prepared at the next meeting? How can you stand out from your peers? Take it from this manager in the semiconductor industry: there are ways to get ahead, and I’m not just going to tell you how to shine… I’m going to give you the keys to being unbeatable.

Everyone’s track in life is different and unique. In the same office, you’ve got a baby boomer starting her career in an area “she’s always wanted to work in,” a forty-something mom-of-two who leaves work right at 5 p.m. (so she can get the girls to softball practice) and a millennial fresh out of college who doesn’t quite know what she’s doing but is super focused on learning how to do it. Three generations, three very different lives, one office water cooler. Stop comparing your path to theirs.

You never know when "that" project might turn into the next big opportunity.

Burnout makes it look like you can’t handle responsibility. Know what you can handle and what you can't.

If you're not using them when you need them, you're missing out on a valuable resource.

Pro tip: I keep a running log of projects and accomplishments so that when someone asks what I’m working on, I always have a great answer. It’s not bragging if they asked, so tell them something amazing.

One of the hardest things for people to learn is “when you win, we win.” Make sure you give credit where credit is due.

Lots of things will be thrown at you; everyone thinks that their emergency is your priority. Be sensitive to their needs, but remember — there’s always more work, so you should take each task one step at a time. Break a big project into lots of little ones to make it seem less intimidating.

Anticipate your manager’s — and your company’s — needs and keep finding ways to improve your skill set. (Online courses are great for this.) These personal qualities can make you invaluable and irreplaceable.

Confrontation happens. Do it in person, do it in private; humiliating someone in public makes you look like the bad guy, regardless of the situation.

Not only do women lack advocates and mentors in the workplace, but by showing your employer that you can bring reliable assets to your company, you show your managers that you’re looking out for them and trying to give something back to your workplace.

Follow this short list and you’ll feel invincible, whether at the weekly group meeting or at your yearly review. For more ways to rock it in the office, check out “Why We Should Embrace Millennials’ Work Ethic,” or if you’re considering greener pastures, try “Red Flags in the Workplace.”

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