Want to rise in your organization? Start by standing out as a team member.
Every growing organization is looking for new managers. Most know the best way to preserve their culture is to give current team members the opportunity to become a manager. In the best organizations, the manager role is a coveted position with significant additional responsibilities and a different level of accountability. It also requires a step up in confidence, skill sets, and mindsets. These positions come with extra benefits that can accelerate career growth and opportunities. As a result, promotion to manager is usually competitive, with more candidates than opportunities.
So, how do you set yourself apart from your peers?
The way to step up into management is to stand out as a team member. The best team members excel in key control areas: attitude, effort, desire to learn, pace of improvement and adaptability, and willingness to take on work for opportunity. We call these areas “control” because they are within your control and do not require you to undermine anyone else for success. Let’s look at each.
Attitude
People want to be around optimistic, realistic, and positive individuals. Your goal is to create positive energy for those around you and be aware of how your emotions and reactions impact other team members. That includes learning what not to say at work. Problems and thoughts that affect your attitude need to stay at home.
- Learn how to read the room and practice emotional intelligence consistently.
- Don’t be the person who brings down the mood unnecessarily.
- Get to know people so you can support and help them, and let them get to know you at their speed.
- That means being more interested in hearing from others than telling everyone about yourself—until they ask.
- Be relatable and open to creating relationships.
- Be the person most willing to work in the room. If you have that attitude, everyone will know it.
Effort
Effort comes in many forms.
- Preparation: Be on time for meetings, be ready to work, and do what is expected.
- Commitment to getting it right: How you do anything determines how you do everything. This old saying reminds you to have a personal standard of effort to get it right, no matter the task.
- Realistic expectations: Know the difference between the best you can and the best you can at the moment.
Desire to Learn
Displaying a genuine desire to learn matters. Constantly seek opportunities to grow and improve.
- Ask:
- How can I be better?
- What information is out there for me to learn, and how can I get access to it?
- Seek a mentor:
- Find someone who is willing to help you learn to master your job. Some managers are natural trainers and mentors, but sometimes your initial training and development will come from a more senior team member.
- Observe what they do. Ask them to show you how to do it and if there are ways to practice to get better.
- Do:
- Take the advice of your mentor seriously, and show them that you want to improve by putting their advice into practice. Be willing to do the work when no one is looking.
- Display:
- Show your mentor your progress. Be open to more guidance and direction. As you practice, you will build capabilities for the next set of instructions. The more effort and progress you make on your own, the more likely you will inspire your mentor to offer more guidance due to your interest, initiative, and progress.
- Act:
- Use your new skills at the right time and in the right way to make a positive impact on the team.
Pace of Improvement and Adaptability
The best team members do their job well, and everyone assumes they will continue to do so. Your initial focus should be on being excellent at your job as defined by the organization and your supervisor.
The pace at which you learn, display competency, and contribute to the team is within your control and constantly assessed by your team members and managers. Excellence is about tangible results, not effort. Providing exceptional results and consistent reliability will always set you apart from your peers.
Willingness to Take on Work for Opportunity
Being willing to grind and be of service to others creates opportunities. Understand that it takes time to build skills and a reputation for excellence. It’s your choice—learn what you can in every opportunity.
Final Thoughts
Being the best team member requires mindfulness, clarity, knowledge, initiative, commitment, and discipline.
By focusing on these areas of control, you can not only become an exceptional team member but also position yourself for advancement. Remember, it’s not about outshining others but about consistently contributing, learning, and growing alongside your teammates. True leadership begins with mastering the art of teamwork.
