Leave A Legacy

Leave A Legacy What legacy do you want to leave? What  impact do you want to make? How do you  want your peers and management to perceive you?  Today is the day to think about creating the right  reputation! Begin Building Your Legacy Today No matter what your past legacy was, you have the opportunity to create a new one. Rather than focus on what you need to fix, your weaknesses and flaws, choose to lead from a position of power by accentuating your natural talents. Whether you are starting a new job or holding on to one, set a new course. Review the list below and think about which award will fit most comfortably with your strengths and motivation. 1. Unsung Hero You may have strong organizational skills or excel at managing details. Are you the type of person who does your best work behind the scenes? The unsung hero award goes to players, like you, who modestly make a difference. You don’t do it for the recognition. You are probably the type of employee who says “I was just doing my job.” Success Tip: When you find yourself with extra time in your day, look for the opportunity to help someone. Offer to pitch in on a special project or help a teammate. Not only is your willingness to help appreciated, it can also set you apart as invaluable asset. Be sure you have completed your own work to the highest standards before going the extra mile. 2. Customer Appreciation Award Customers, both internal and external, love you! Your ability to listen open-mindedly and help resolve problems is a desirable skill set. Whenever possible, look for the chance to delight your customers. You can resolve an issue ahead of schedule, give more than your customers ask for or keep customers up-to-date on your progress. A word of caution when trying to serve your customers, always adhere to company guidelines. Your customer service strengths apply to almost every job you’ll ever have from this point forward. Success Tip: Be sure you collect the raving testimonials from satisfied customers and share them with your manager. 3. Best In Class You can’t compete against everyone. This may be the reason car makers use “best in class” designations. It allows a vehicle to stand out in the appropriate category. Is your category “new hire” “accounting” “team leader” or something else? Think about where you are in your career and organization and then think about how you can stand out in your category. You can use your job-specific knowledge and dedication to your field to set yourself apart. Consider one of these ideas: attend a professional conference to keep up to date on new trends; volunteer to develop content for the new hire orientation; offer to deliver training for your team. Over achieve in whatever category or class you want to recognition in. Success Tip: Talk to your manager about ways you can help raise the level of knowledge within your department or group. Once you’ve completed your project or assignment, don’t forget to ask for a recommendation on LinkedIn from your manager and teammates. 4. MVP The Most Valuable Player award goes to the best-performing athlete in a game, someone who outshines all the other players. You can take advantage of your confidence, hustle, dedication, or effort to bask in the glory of being a star. Use your innate strengths in problem-solving or taking initiative to make a difference. Step forward to lead a project or take on a challenging issue. Success Tip: No one ever achieves greatness alone. Be sure you give credit and show your appreciation to your colleagues. Be humble and show your gratitude.   5. Best Tech Gadget of the Year No, you aren’t a gadget, but you know how to get the most from technology. You naturally gravitate towards shiny new apps and your friends and family may already consider you their go-to tech genius. Why not carry your expertise over into the workplace? Keep in mind, you may not be the only employee in your organization with great tech skills. Share your reviews of apps and software solutions among your teammates, and perhaps your entire organization. Success Tip: Partner up with the other gurus for a greater overall impact and visibility. And always be sure to show the financial impact or efficiency gained through using the new technology. Which type of legacy will you leave? This post originally appeared on USNews World Report