While you may not be training for the Olympics, every day at work matters for your career success. You could just keep up the status quo, but that won’t even get you to the Olympics (so to speak). Instead of settling for bronze or silver, follow the Olympian path for gold to achieve your career goals:
Find Your Coach
No athlete makes it to the Olympics alone; they have coaches, mentors, family, and friends that help them achieve their goals. Find someone in the company who can mentor you and help you develop into a better person and employee. This can be your boss, another employee at the company, or someone in the same industry. This shows that you are open to development and eager to learn and grow.
Make it Past The Qualifying Rounds
Every athlete sticks to a regimented training program, but it’s the athletes that can push themselves harder everyday to go the extra mile that make it to the Olympics. Come to work a little early or be willing to stay a little late. Anticipate what needs to be done in order to fulfill a need before it’s asked. “Staying the course” will keep you in good graces but it won’t get you to the next Olympics. Consider the figure skating performances of Yuna Kim and Adelina Sotnikova. While Kim’s performance was flawless, it was also easier. Although Sotnikova made a small error, the execution of the rest of her more technically difficult routine earned her the gold. Challenge yourself to submit only A+ quality work and show initiative by trying new ways of tackling projects and you’ll get noticed.
Get A ‘Move’ Named After You
Stay on top of the newest skills and technologies required in your industry and don’t be afraid to try something new. Sage Kotsenburg, Slopestyle’s Gold Medalist in this year’s Olympics, won by creating his own moves and doing tricks that no one else was doing. His new, unique skills won him the gold. Add freshness to your job by seeking out and learning the latest technical skills and languages.
Accept the Judges’ Feedback
Do you seek feedback and implement the changes suggested to you from your employer? It can be both difficult and invigorating to see your scores as an Olympic Athlete. Tina Maze, Olympic Alpine Skier, received two gold medals this year after receiving two silver medals in the last Olympics. Maze learned from her experiences in the 2010 Olympics, implemented the feedback she was given, and won the gold. You may want to go one step further than simply receiving and implementing feedback. Be self reflective: work on your behaviors or skills that you recognize need adjustment.
Increase your Score
Do you think you’re good at your job and maybe even irreplaceable to your employer? Back yourself up with some numbers. We wouldn’t have world records or Olympic gold medals if we didn’t measure how well athletes perform. Show your boss just how good you are at your job with numbers that make your results quantifiable. In addition, document your job. It can be easy for a superior to be unaware of just how much you do. Highlight how you are able to handle responsibility by being able to show the responsibilities you already have.
Represent Your Country Company
Every 2 years, Olympic athletes proudly wear their countries’ colors, and fans and newscasters alike demonstrate their national pride. They speak passionately and enthusiastically about their journey to the Olympics and their aims for Olympic gold. Show pride in your work and the company you work for through your own enthusiasm and dedication. Now we’re not suggesting you power through a horrible pink eye infection like Bob Costas, news anchor for NBC, but that much dedication is hard to miss. Find a healthy way to show just how passionate you are about your job.
Support the Other Members of your Team
Business can be cut-throat, but you don’t have to take other people down in order for you to be successful. Work toward helping others and building your colleagues up. Be like Canadian cross-country ski coach, Justin Wadsworkth, who replaced competitor Anton Garfarov’s broken ski so he could finish the race. While there are situations in which you might be going head to head with your teammates, fair play and sportsmanship matter, as much in the office as on the snow. Keep your eye on the gold, but don’t sacrifice your integrity or the team’s success.
Whether you have 4 years until your next chance at the Olympics a promotion, or that opportunity is right around the corner, remember that pushing your self to consistently deliver better performances will pay off. To get the gold, don’t just accept your score, strive for a higher one by showing initiative, implementing feedback, demonstrating enthusiasm for what you do, and supporting your team.
