20 Sep How to Stop Being Complacent in Your Job

Complacency at work can lead to career stagnation. Turning up to work every day and performing your assigned duties, but nothing more, is unlikely to put you in line for a promotion or pay raise. To overcome this complacency, you need to change your mindset and start going the extra mile. Here are a few things you can do to stop being complacent in your job and put yourself on the path to career success.

1. Volunteer Your Skills

You probably have skills your supervisor is not aware of. Rather than keeping these skills to yourself, volunteer whenever they might be useful. Whenever you see one of your coworkers struggling with something you are familiar with, help them out. Your supervisor will soon notice that you are a highly skilled individual who deserves a role with more responsibilities — and hopefully a bigger paycheck to match!

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2. Talk to Everyone

If you want to advance within your organization, it is a good idea for you to understand the business as well as you possibly can. Make the effort to talk to people outside of your own department to find out what goes on in other parts of the company. Ask questions and foster a sense of curiosity that will be valuable to you throughout your career.

3. Help Others Succeed

When trying to show that you are a hardworking and highly skilled employee, it is easy to fall into the trap of focusing solely on yourself and your own work. A better approach is to help other people to succeed whenever you can. Always be ready to help people out when they need assistance. Your coworkers and managers will notice your giving nature and remember how you helped them when they are considering which workers are most worthy of a promotion.

By going the extra mile at work, you can overcome complacency and kick-start your career. Use these tips to put yourself in the mindset of helpfulness, openness and determination to succeed.