Expert Panel, Forbes Coaches Council
Forbes Source:
Every employee wants to make a positive impact on their organization. However, doing so can be difficult when you have your plate full with your regular job duties.
If you really want to make a difference at your company, you need to think beyond your daily tasks and find ways to improve the business's overall processes. Sixteen members of Forbes Coaches Council shared their insights to help you identify those "problem areas" and start changing things for the better.
1. Think Like The Customer
One way of making a greater impact in an organization is to identify pain points for the customer. You may not see this in your day-to-day work, so getting in the mindset of the customer and how they interact with your company can help to identify improvements in the customer experience. Fix the customer frustration and you can make a great impact to the bottom line of your organization. - Kathy Lockwood, Blue Water Leadership Coaching
2. Ask How You Can Help
Select an area you feel you could have the biggest impact in – one you enjoy and may want to work more in. Then ask the key players in that area how you can help them in a way that best utilizes your skills, expertise and time. Determine how much time and effort you're able and willing to put into helping, and fit this into your daily schedule. - Sharissa Sebastian, Sharissa Sebastian - Life & Leadership Coaching
3. Look At The Budgets
Company executives demonstrate which problems they feel are most important based on how they allocate resources to getting them solved. By taking a look at an approved budget, you can quickly see which problems have the highest priority. Once you have that information, show others how you have solutions to those issues. - Donald Hatter, Donald Hatter Inc.
4. Inject Personal Passion Into Company Goals
Identify key initiatives that management is promoting, and find a project that is aligned with your unique expertise. Develop a thesis and solution for the project as your personal contribution. Create a plan that focuses on the big picture and outlines the developmental growth you want to achieve. Gain buy-in from management, then engage team members to join the project for collaboration success. - Rachel Lourdes Mestre, Rachel Mestre LLC
5. Conduct A 360-Degree Assessment
Enlist supervisors, peers and possibly even clients and other career stakeholders in a 360-degree assessment of your skills, natural talents, blind spots and career development needs. Then evaluate the responses against opportunities in your current organization, both for new roles and training or growth experiences you could begin. - Sarah Beth Aubrey, A.C.T. Aubrey Coaching & Training
6. Carve Out 'Scheming And Dreaming' Time
You can't step away from your tasks if you're head down working on them. Dedicate time to exploring and meeting with people across the organization. Identify areas you're curious about and spend time scheming and dreaming about what they could be, or what they could benefit from stripping away. Test out your ideas, and make it a habit to talk to lots of different people often. - Jenn Lofgren, Incito Executive & Leadership Development
7. Have More Face-To-Face Conversations
If you want to make a greater impact at your company, stop hiding behind your computer or smartphone. True professional development happens one person at a time, one conversation at a time. Get out and start talking to your leaders, clients, customers and colleagues. Ask them for the one thing you can do to help them reach their goals faster. You'll uncover ideas you'll never find online. - Darcy Eikenberg, Red Cape Revolution
8. Volunteer For New Opportunities
Always say yes to a new opportunity. If a leader asks for help, raise your hand. If departments vent, a customer need is identified, a new technology is rolled out, or inefficiency observations are made, step forward. You'll learn there's plenty to fix internally and externally, but people often resort to complaining instead of participating to take action. Be the memorable one. - Joanne Markow, GreenMason
9. Think Like An Entrepreneur
If you want to make a greater impact in your company, think like an entrepreneur. Ask yourself, "If this was my company, what would I do?" Then offer your advice and get ready to receive a lot of rejections from people who don't understand what you are doing. - Simone Vincenzi, GTeX Ltd
10. Offer Insights On Customers, Competitors, Colleagues And Cautions
Managers are always eager to hear insights on four areas: customer experiences and desires, competitor moves, recognition of colleagues (i.e. give a shout out to others in the company or help recruit great talent into the company), and potential risks and cautionary tales. Be vigilant and consistently scan the environment for these areas. Share your ideas and be part of the solution. - Shoma Chatterjee, ghSMART
11. Create 'Start,' 'Stop' and 'Continue' Action Lists
Take specific topics, like company culture or a company process, and then brainstorm three lists: What should we start doing, stop doing, and continue doing? The structure of the "start" and "stop" lists will generate improvement ideas. The "continue" list will help to shine a light on the positive to continue to leverage for long-term success and change. - Bonnie Davis, Destination Up
12. Take A Class
As with anything you do in routine, your mind starts to become mechanical in performing tasks. Take a class in something you would enjoy learning. This will force your mind to escape the comfort zone and start thinking differently. Taking a class in a group will also expose you to new people and new perspectives. - Alan Trivedi, Trivedi Coaching & Consulting Group
13. Try Journaling
Keep a journal. Spend 15 minutes per day and write down three things: (1) What went really well today? (2) What went really badly today? (3) What do I need help with? Tracking over 90 days, and you can see clearly what you are exceptionally good at, what you need to delegate, and what you need advanced support on. It's great for conversation with supervisors or leadership planning. - Courtney Feider, Courtney Feider, LLC
14. Bring 'The Little Things' To Leadership's Attention
Sometimes, because leadership is not in the trenches dealing with the customers, they can get lost. This is where an employee has an advantage. Employees can bring to light repetitive complaints, a.k.a. the "little things" from customers. Suggest a planning retreat that helps your leaders with the little things, and bring your own ideas for improvements. - Rosalee Laws, The Rosalee Laws Company
15. Volunteer For Company Causes
Many opportunities exist when employees truly participate in what the company deems as essential to its community outreach and brand. This impact may not directly have to do with your daily duties, but it provides other leaders insight into your skills in a slightly different setting. It puts you in a position to possibly influence change as you grow your credibility. - John M. O'Connor, Career Pro Inc.
16. Be A Catalyst For Change
If you desire to make a positive impact in your organization, become a catalyst for change. Establish a mindset of collaboration when you are seeking to pinpoint opportunities for improvement. Accept the responsibility for facilitating the change process once the business case is established for change by the engaged individuals. Acknowledge others' contributions to ensure a positive impact. - Erin Urban, UPPSolutions, LLC
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