For many of us, 2016 was a doozy, but we here at Brit + Co are ready to hit refresh in 2017! Follow our Hit Refresh series through January for new ideas, hacks and skills that will help you achieve (and maintain!) those New Year’s resolutions.
A new year is the perfect time to take a step back, reevaluate and make some serious changes. Not loving the one you’re with? That’s okay. You can break up. Want to get seriously toned all over? Awesome! Cardio hour, here we come. Totally love your job and want to keep climbing that ladder? That’s super cool, but during the season of change, your boss might be wondering if you’re scoping out other options. That’s why we asked Lila Ibrahim, COO of Coursera, to share her five tips to prove to your boss you’re here to stay. Read on, rock on.
1. Overcommunicate. At any job, at any time, you could be juggling a number of assignments, so you have to learn how to manage your time to get everything done. But Lila has a tip.“Be overly communicative about what you’re working on, when your team or manager can expect deliverables and what you’ll need from them to complete the assignment,” she says. And that goes for when things don’t go as planned too. “If you find yourself unable to meet a deadline, tell your boss as soon as possible with context and a new proposed date. Things happen and proactively communicating lets them know you’re responsible and can manage your time,” says Lila.
2. You were hired for your unique point of view. Own it. “Everyone comes to the table with their own set of experiences and perspectives. Avoid comparing yourself to those around you and focus on what you can bring to the table — no matter your pay grade or job title,” advises Lila. “Speak up in meetings, seek and share feedback with your higher-ups and those you lead, and come to every table with new ideas and questions based on your unique perspective. Don’t be intimidated to speak up and get creative,” she says.
3. Learn something new. No matter the industry or sector, jobs are changing faster than ever, and the shelf life of your college degree is getting shorter. Plus, with innovation and technology moving so quickly, it’s imperative you keep your skills sharp. Lila says, “Make yourself indispensable by learning to code or brushing up on your Photoshop skills. Take these newfound skills and share them with your colleagues. This helps generate new knowledge and also fosters a culture of learning. Plus, you win points for being proactive and the person in the know.”
4. Embrace and define your company’s culture. “When I hire or evaluate my employees, I’m looking for individuals who believe that we’re doing world-changing work and also believe in the work they’re doing. Like many other things in life, we typically do our best work on the things that we’re most passionate about. It’s both personally and professionally rewarding when the work you’re doing really matters and you get to experience the positive outcomes,” shares Lila. She continues, “Know your company’s culture and take the time to truly reflect on it, understand it and participate in it — whether that be through leading by example, attending (or planning) company events and task forces, or supporting a culture of learning by asking questions and sharing ideas.”
5. Rise to the occasion, and don’t be afraid to fail. Sometimes, you just gotta go for it. Lila advises, “In an era of growth mindset, there’s never been a better time to stretch yourself, take risks and be fearless. Instead of dwelling on or being fearful of what could (or does) go wrong, how can you turn the experience into a meaningful one? And, if it doesn’t work out, share that failure in a productive way to land a new job, or demonstrate a willingness to stretch above the standard. It sets you up for more growth opportunities.”
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(Photos via Getty)
