After looking at how to blend in, I now offer my suggestions on how to stand out! We are all individuals with our own sets of qualities, knowledge, experiences, skills and talent, and I believe that showing them off is intrinsically part of the nine to 5 hustle.
If you have noticed any of the following:
- you are not invited in meetings,
- you are not cc’ed in emails,
- you were overlooked for a promotion,
- you tend to keep to yourself,
- you are never consulted for input on anything,
- or worse, your boss has forgotten your name.
Then, it’s time to stand out!
How do you stand out?
1. Be seen.Being seen is one of the most obvious ways to stand out from the crowd. How do you do that? Well, simply by looking different. As much as your work’s dress code allows it, try to be different, wear bold colours, make fashion statements, try a new hair cut. If that seems very superficial, that’s because it is. Here it’s about standing out through your appearance. For example, I have colleagues that work in our production facility where they have a given attire to wear. One of the ladies working there always has a different statement necklace every time I see her. It is a small starement but she does stand out because of that. Another colleague who works in the administrative part of the business always wears dark colored suits as per the office dress code, but manages to always wear a nice tie, colourful watch and I’ve also seen him be adventurous with his choice of shoes. He is always impeccable. In the sea of grey, black, and blue, he is definitely seen.
2. Be visible.While being seen engages your appearance, being visible engages your presence. Be present. Demand a seat at the table. Ask to participate in meetings/events/conferences that you would usually not attend. By doing so, you will become visible to a whole new crowd of people.
3. Be heard. Be more vocal. State your opinion, ask questions, declare your agreement or disagreement of other’s opinions/action plans/ideas. Being heard is another way of being present and being noticed. But also, pick up the phone more. At work, especially in an office setting, we tend to communicate exclusively by email because it is a practical way to put clear information on record to be shared with team members, boss, partners, suppliers, etc. However, don’t underestimate the power of a phone call. You will definitely stand out if you decide to pick up the phone. Don’t stop emailing altogether though, it has its purpose but calling before or after sending an email is a sure way to leave a good impression. Don’t forego the old-fashioned phone call!
I have a full post on being heard coming soon.
4. Be helpful.Be of service to those around you, not just your boss. It may pay to go the extra mile on a project, help out on preparing meetings, taking some tasks of the hand of your colleagues/boss. Be a team player. Share nuggets (I insist on nuggets) of your knowledge or expertise in a particular subject. Overstretch yourself on occasions when it benefits you strategically.
5. Be decisive. Make a decision and stand by it. It is not easy. It means taking some risks but with experience you will be making better informed decisions. What is the worse that can happen? It doesn’t pay off? That’s ok. You may be remembered for something that may not have worked out but at least you will be remembered. You will be known as someone that stood by something when nobody else dared jump in the water. That raises your profile amongst your peers. And, I can tell you for sure, that there is always a way to turn a bad decision into an overall positive outcome.
6. Be yourself.It is incredible how many of us put on a mask when we go to work, and take it off when we reach home at night. By being yourself at work, and showing your personality, you will stand out. You will be relatable and have an identity. I am not suggesting that you should open up your personal life at work, not at all. Just feel allowed to show some of your personality, your personal preferences, your principles, your main traits of character.
A time when I stood out.
A couple of years ago, I attended a very exclusive conference. Given the high price of the attendance fee, I was the only one from my company to attend. It is so expensive that it is a conference that we would usually not attend. That year though, the list of speakers and other attendees was very attractive for me and was the chance to generate new sales opportunities. I had to make the most it. I had decided that I should find a way to stand out at that conference and thought that I should ask questions at the end of every presentation, or so. Why? Because when you ask questions, you usually have to state your name and the company you work for. And so I did. How does that qualify as standing out, you may ask? Well, because usually at conferences the audience can be shy and very few dare ask a question, mostly by fear of asking a “stupid” question. So the ones that ask questions always stand out. During the first coffee break, I had people coming to me wanting to discuss further on my commentary and questions. The conference lasted 2 days. At the end of the second day, the conference organiser recommended to an important industry magazine sponsoring the event to offer the company I work for a free advertisement and article. And we were given a speaking invitation the following year. I was heard!
So I will end this post with an important note. I listed the ways that I find will help you stand out. Try the ones that you are comfortable with. This is not a guide for you to change who you are. If you are not authentic, it will show and will defeat the purpose. Also, you should expect that not everyone will be happy to see you try to raise your profile. Some will feel overshadowed which may or may not be a tricky situation to navigate. It is up to you to judge each situation and follow the path that best fits your advancement at work and your personal development. Good luck!
Do you have other suggestions? What has worked for you? I am eager to hear from you x