Do you ever wonder how some people make a better impact than others? It could be the way they dress, speak, and carry themselves. It could be their smile or kind demeanour. It could be the strength of their personality or the firmness of their handshake. Whatever it is, you remember them more than anyone else. Don’t you want to leave a mark on other people’s mind when you leave the room?
Making an impact in your career is more than the optics; it’s more on the value you create. Whether in results you delivered, or how you inspired or made others feel, positive impact is high when people have a lot of good things to say about you. In today’s competitive job market, the real struggle to stay top of mind is essential. This is why making an impact with your employers or clients cannot be discounted. You need to keep focused, visible, and determined.
Goals
One of the first yet hardest things to do is setting goals. Always have an objective so your actions are purposeful; otherwise, you may spread yourself too thin trying to do things that will be of little to no help to you in the long run. For example, it’s natural to build a skill set as you go along, but what skills are those, exactly? Simply put, if you don’t know where you want to go, you can’t figure out how to get there. So take the time to gain a bit of focus in terms of deciding what area you want to specialize in and what expertise you want to be known for. Build your personal brand at work and make it work.
Network
Next, you have to build a network. There will always come a time when you would need to rely on someone else for help in your job search. In as much as you want to, you can’t do everything yourself. In a way, this also prompts you to focus and give attention to what you do best while someone else with a different skill set can fill in the gaps. You also never know whom you may need to work with in the future, so always try your best to leave a positive impact on people—even when you don’t see exactly how that connection might help you in the future. Invest in relationships.
Perseverance
Sometimes, you just need to learn how not to take NO for an answer. It is possible to get your way by being pushy—but still leave a very positive impression on a client or employer. This marks the difference between assertiveness and arrogance. While the former shows you’re not afraid to do what needs to be done to finish the job, the latter shows a lack of skill in dealing with others. Those who are successful don’t get to where they are by being pushovers or by being self-entitled. Learn this balancing act, and you can shine among others in your field.
In summary, it’s about keeping focused, investing in relationships, and being persistent. These three traits can help you separate yourself from the rest—and help keep yourself desirable and employable. At the end of the day, your actions determine whether your career will be a success or a failure. Just remember, it’s all about making the right kind of impact on everyone you work with. As Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
