In this winner-take-all economy and with the highest level of income inequality at this time, it is necessary to stand out to survive and advance at your workplace. Standing out is no longer optional. There is very less room for average performers. The staying quiet and doing your own work type of jobs are disappearing quickly. Most of the work is being automated due to digital transformation and increasing investment in Data and AI. The reputation of hard worker does not have much value any more, and we need to make sure our work is visible and we stand out while showing how much value we are delivering.

Every one has special strengths given by God. We don’t have to be a super star. All that is needed is being deliberate about identifying where we want to make the contributions and put your 100% on it. If we expect to advance, we need to be able and willing to share ourselves and our ideas with others while working smart. Quietly doing your work and assuming that you may get noticed, may not work any more. Since now the the attention span of human beings has decreased due to excessive use of technology, we need to make sure we and our work get noticed. We need to build professional reputation so that we are recognized as the authority in our field.

Apart of making yourself and your work stand out, Here are some of the traits Travis Bradberry wrote of a truly exceptional employee who stands out.

1- Be willing to delay the gratification and be will to do any work that is outside your boundary,

2- Don’t run away from the conflict! Withstand personal attacks in the pursuit of greater goal and maintain your composure.

3- Stay focus on what matters. Differentiate between the real problem and the noise.

4- Be courageous to speak up when others are not talking the stand (when they should), but remember to balance it with common sense and timing.

5- Be the master of your ego and don’t give it more weight than it deserves.

6- Focus on personal improvement, with the belief that we are never done growing.

7- Don’t just walk past the problems thinking that it has been that way forever, instead fix the problem immediately.

8- Take full responsibility of your work and mistakes.

9- Be liked by your peers and have leadership skills and the integrity that you can represent your company’s brand well

10- Keep your feelings in check when dealing with toxic people and approach the situation rationally, without letting the toxic person’s negativity bringing you down or exhaust you.

While trying your best to stand out at work, remember you are replaceable at work but irreplaceable at home. Home is real life.