Here’s a general piece of advice that helped me in my career these last five years: don’t stay in your lane.
By that, I mean: don’t be the person who says “that’s not my job”. Don’t be the one who passes up responsibility. Don’t be the one who passes up opportunity.
Let’s flip the negative:
- Say yes when you can
- Be helpful
- Take responsibility, take ownership (work together, win together)
Look, boundaries are important – we all need to get our “actual” job done. But boundaries don’t mean anything if you’re so zoomed into your own world that you’re not helping the bigger picture. And it pays to helpful, kind, a go-to person, seen as someone who is reliable and gets shit done. It’s good for your career and it’s good for the company and what’s good for the company is usually good for your careers.
This doesn’t have to be corporate altruism — it’s practical and a more positive and meaningful to engage with your work.
With Love,
Natalie