The secret to getting assigned high value projects

If you want to succeed at work, you not only need to get work done, you need to do the right kind of work. That work involves helping to complete projects that really matter to your organization—ones that are central to the mission. You don’t get assigned to those key projects right away. They tend to be run by leaders with significant experience and are staffed by others who have proven their capabilities and have demonstrated how they will contribute to a positive outcome. How do you become one of those go-to individuals? Carry a lot of water If you’re going to get placed on significant projects, you must be well known to be reliable. That means both doing the things you’re asked to do well and finding things that you weren’t asked to do and needed to be done. Even if you are not the most conscientious person in the world, you need to focus on the details and ensure that when you take on a task you complete it and do it right. Rinse and repeat. A reputation for doing excellent work emerges over time. A lot of people new to the workplace are impatient to get recognition, promotion, and opportunity. It takes time. Look around your organization. Think about how long some of your colleagues have been working and how long they have been with the team. Reset your expectations and adjust to the reality that it takes a lot of low-level work before you level up. Show you can learn The other key skill you want to demonstrate is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances without a lot of guidance. Don’t just do the things that need to be done. Learn why they are done. When you discover there is a skill that your colleagues have that you don’t, study it, practice it, and get more proficient. You don’t have to shout these efforts from the rooftops. People will notice that you are taking initiative to improve your knowledge and abilities. And when your organization offers chances for professional development, seize them. The high-value assignments have value in part because