6 Ways To Show Your Value Without Being A Jerk - Work It Daily

6 Ways To Show Your Value Without Being A Jerk - Work It Daily Team dynamics can often be difficult to negotiate. At work, generally speaking, you are on a team and you contribute. The problem is that you also want to elevate your career and stand out to your boss. So, how can you do that without the rest of the team feeling like you are a jerk (or worse)? Related: 6 Career Management Hacks That Will Get You Ahead I’ve had the gift of working in amazing environments on rock star teams. I have also had the (ahem) opposite experience. I’ve managed teams, been part of teams, as well as been an individual contributor, and through these years, I’ve found there are a few surefire ways to show you’re an asset without being a show off. So, here goes. 1. Do what you say My favorite direct reports were good for their word. They were trustworthy. You could truly count on them to deliver, and not just for me. I would see these team members and teammates always doing what they said they would. People notice. It might not seem like it, but when you do what you say always, you will get the important assignments. Being the one that does the important stuff is viewed as valuable, and you're valuable without being a jerk - you’re the good guy that people can count on to get stuff done. 2. Solve problems The people who come to me with solutions stand out. Problem solvers who are actively working on solutions to organizational challenges stand out for obvious reasons. They care about the problems of the company and are taking the time to solve them. There is a BIG difference between people who solve problems and people who try not to create them. The problem solvers stand out. And when they include others in the solution, all the better, because they are showing me that they are leaders who can activate others to join the cause of solving the big problems we’re facing. 3. Share in victory Further, managers know that a team builds a victory and solves a problem together. Good managers also can see who’s doing the lion’s share of the work and really contributing to the victory. If it’s you, be sure you are gracious in sharing that victory with the team, that stands out to good managers and to the team. 4. Focus on the mission Be monomaniacal about achieving the goals of the company and the team. When you see the team headed down a rabbit hole, gently guide them back to land. Be the one who is focused on achieving the goals and you will stand out. You might be considered a jerk for being the one who asks for focus by the ones who are unfocused, but they will forgive you when you achieve the goals, solve the problems, and share the victory (see above). 5. Be a trusted resource I frequently advocate being a student of your industry. This is applicable to standing out without being perceived as a jerk when you are sharing information with your teammates about the industry and the business. When you are the go-to for information and insights, you are going to stand out. However, if you do this in a smarty-pants spirit, you are on a slippery slope to Jerktown, population: 1. Being a trusted resource means you are sharing information in the spirit of continuous learning and development. Share that you saw something interesting in the media about the company, competitor, or industry. And when you share this information, offer an insight and an initiation to hear what the recipient of this information thinks. 6. No brag, just fact If you do awesome work, it’s ok to privately share what your proud of with your manager. Key word, privately. Schedule time to share your excitement you're your manager. You should try to have monthly check-points with your manager so that you can gather feedback and continue to advance your career. Keep in mind when you are privately sharing your work with your manager, do it from a place of excitement and pride, not from a place of ego and bragger-y. Excitement is contagious. Your manager may also be able to help you take the work even further. Who stands out on your team without being a jerk? What do they do? Share with me in the comments - I love reading your ideas! This post was originally published on an earlier date. Related Posts 5 Simple Career Management Tips You Should Follow Career Management: Are YOU Lazy? Preparing For A Career Discussion With Your Manager About the author With passion and an innate curiosity, Tracey strives to push the envelope to create great experiences for talent. Tracey has been developing digital, mobile and social solutions for nearly 20 years in the talent acquisition space. Currently CredHive’s CEO, she is dedicated to changing the way hiring is done to create a more level playing field for talent. Visit CredHive to learn more.   Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!