Moving up the ranks

Making more money than your work colleagues is possible, but you will need to think.

You don't need a lot to get ahead at your place of work and neither do you need a lot to be employable. You just need to abide by few rules and have the right thought.

Luckily for me my first job after graduating involved working under a guy I would never forget. His name was Peter Sharpe, he was a project manager, but more than that, he was a leader, teacher and friend. The type of person who made sure you weren't just working but also learning, so that you too could rise the ranks in a short place of time.

I have since met few Peters' along the way and where there were no Peters', I have still made it a must to learn from the people above me in the work place. The following are some traits I have found make some people move easily onwards and upwards at work.

Attitude: Appreciate that your attitude affects how people relate to you. Have a pleasant attitude towards life, be cheerful and affable, wear a genuine smile and go about your work with the attitude of getting things done the best you can. A good name and attitude will get you places.

People Friendly: Following on from having the right attitude is being genuinely friendly to the people who work with you, and I don't mean just getting along. Be polite and civil to all, including the cleaner. You might like to know that 85% of success is due to personality factors - your capacity to deal with people successfully.

Planning: Start you day with a plan of action. Create a list of work-related tasks you need to complete for the day, week, and month. Prioritize your actions and only do the critical activities.

Focus: Be aware, know what goes on around the office and who is who, but leave out the gossip, ideal talk and other people's political battles. Remember why you are at work.

Speak Out: Say no to excess delegation, don't get overloaded with work. Don't volunteer for the sake of it, however, you can lend a helping hand provided it doesn't have a negative effect on your duties. Also, don't be afraid of asking questions.

Lost in the Pile: Be different, be known for the right reasons. Don't settle for being just another employee, decision makers (senior level managers) must know who you are and what you do. This shouldn't be too difficult if you are doing your job properly in the first place.

Problem Solver: Problem solvers rise to the top. Try to resolve a problem before it arises. Your manager doesn't want to know the problem, he / she wants to know you solved it or at least tried. One more thing, saying, "It's not my department" is a big NO.

Money: You don't have to be on the board to be well paid. You just need to do your job properly and be a problem solver - an important asset, and then you can negotiate a pay packet on your own terms. One vital point, no one needs to know how much you are paid.

Owner: Finally, think and act like the owner of the organisation. Do the things you would do if you were the owner. For instance, would you leave lights, heaters etc on overnight when you know it's a waste and costing the organisation money?

There is no reason why you shouldn't and can't move up the career ladder. The question is, are you willing to think and act in a certain way? You might want to buy a copy of " Rules of Work" if you are ready to fast track your career.