Whether your goal is to get promoted at work, land your dream job, or finally take the leap to launch your side hustle, making sure you stand out from the crowd is a huge part of your success.
Think about it: How can you convince anyone you’re the most qualified or the best choice if you cannot differentiate yourself from everyone else? So, figuring out how to stand out at work is a key part of achieving success in your career.
But standing out in a sea of people doing things similar to you can be a challenge. You’ve probably got a million questions swirling around your brain.
Questions like:
What makes me special?
How is what I’m doing differently from everyone else?
Why is what I have to say or do worth anyone’s time?
Am I good enough to stand out from the crowd?
Although these questions represent how many of us think, the good news is that it’s much easier to stand out from the competition at work than you think. It’s just a matter of changing your approach.
5 Ways to stand out from the competition at work
Do you want to know how to stand out at work and start getting noticed for your incredible talents? Here are five easy ways to help you stand out!
1. Quit comparing yourself to other people
This is the most crucial part of the entire process. If you’re consistently comparing what you do to what everyone else does, you’ve already put yourself at a disadvantage. The saying goes, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” and while that’s true, I’d take it a step further and say it’s also the thief of success.
When you take your eyes off of your goal to worry about what someone else is doing, you’ve taken time away from doing things that will help you move forward in your own career.
Instead, your goal should be to get laser-focused on what you bring to the table and how you can improve your own skillset. The most successful people will tell you that you simply can’t worry about what anyone else is up to when it comes to getting to the top.
Wasting valuable time focused on other people will actually put you further behind them. So, instead, stop comparing, set professional goals, and focus on how you can stand out from the crowd!
2. Create your signature style at work
A signature style is a unique way you approach your work and encompasses how you think, how you relate to others, and how you express yourself. Basically, it's getting crystal clear on your strengths and how to use them deliberately.
Developing your signature style forces you to tap into who you are related to your work. It also brings you much closer to bringing your authentic self to the office.
Those who are successful in their careers have developed and mastered their signature style. Instead of shying away from the things that make them different, they’ve embraced and even highlighted them.
For example, someone who's tapped into their signature style is not afraid to offer a differing opinion or share their personal views on a topic. Those who can truly be themselves at work attain more success in their career overall.
3. Become an expert to stand out from the crowd
Although you may be tempted to brand yourself as a “jack of all trades” and spread your knowledge base across many different areas at work, it’s much easier to stand out from the crowd if you become the “go-to” expert on a specific topic.
And while most people tend to shy away from calling themselves an expert for fear of not having enough knowledge or experience, the truth is that being an expert doesn’t mean you need to have your Ph.D. on a particular topic or spend ten years working in a specific field. It means that you’ve dedicated time and energy to learn more about your work than other people have.
If you spend just one hour researching one topic, you’ll already know more about it than 50% of people. Now imagine if you spend 60 minutes every single day researching that same topic. That’s right; you’re now an expert.
Rather than focusing on your competition, your goal should be to figure out how to best develop your own skills. For instance, in a way that plays to your strengths and highlights what makes you, you. Check out these budget-friendly ways to learn new skills so you can stand out from the competition at work!
Google Career Certification
A simple way to expand your skillset to stand out from the competition is to get certified. Google offers low-cost professional certificates that you can access online. They have courses in UX Design, IT Support, Project Management, and Data Analytics. They even have some free training you can access too!
Learn a new language
A huge way to stand out from the crowd is to learn a new language. Depending on what language you speak can actually increase your salary! Thanks to apps like Duolingo and Babbel, it's super easy and fun to learn a new language.
Canva Design School
Learn how to create compelling graphics with Canva Design School! These courses cover everything from branding your business to creating social media posts. The best part is that these courses are FREE! This is an excellent way to expand your skills if you enjoy being creative.
Learning new skills is how to stand out at work that boosts your career and income!
4. Have an upbeat attitude
One of the easiest ways to stand out from the crowd is to have an upbeat attitude. When someone is more positive than negative, it creates a better work environment for everyone. This can even result in making more money.
For example, let's say a co-worker says that reaching the sales goal for the month is impossible. Unfortunately, that negativity can impact the rest of the team, resulting in no one even trying to attain the goal.
However, if you try being positive and say, "we can totally hit this goal and make our bonuses this month," it can motivate your coworkers to give their best, which increases productivity. This, in turn, helps you earn your bonuses. Not only does this create a positive work environment, but your boss may also take notice which can help you land a promotion later!
5. Stand out from the crowd by volunteering to help
A huge way to stand out from the competition at work is to be willing to help. For example, did someone call out, and your boss needs someone to work overtime to cover a shift? Volunteer to work the shift. Being willing to work additional shifts or be more flexible than others with your schedule can be a great way to stand out from the crowd.
Also, taking on additional tasks from time to time can be an excellent career strategy too. Learning new skills that are outside of your current job can help you become more knowledgeable. This can make you more valuable because you are expanding your skillset outside of your current role.
Stand out from the crowd for career success
Rather than focusing on others, use these 5 tips to stand out from the competition. Learning how to stand out at work by expanding your skills, having a positive attitude, and being willing to help will lead to career success. Of course, having a successful career can help you get your financial life together too!
If you've hit a plateau at your job or searching for something better, then check out our FREE course to learn how to land a higher-paying job that you love!