Just say “yes”
By Daniel Fuller
Have you ever wondered why some people are offered career opportunities that never seem to come your way?
It might be because those people have built a reputation for saying “yes” to extra responsibilities and opportunities. Saying “yes” can take different forms. Sometimes it’s a literal “yes” when your boss asks you to take on extra responsibility.
Many people don’t want to work overtime unless they have to, but your attitude when your boss asks you to work late will be noted, even if it’s subconsciously. Over time, they’ll learn who they can rely on to step up, and who just wants to turn up and go home as quickly as possible.
Sometimes saying “yes” is all about taking on an extra responsibility that nobody asked you to do, but which nobody else has stepped up to take care of.
At a typical landscape maintenance workplace, you would pay to dispose of green waste at the tip, but then you buy in compost and mulch for clients. If there’s plenty of space at the depot to start a compost and mulch station, you could approach your boss and ask to initiate the process. It may not have the capacity for 100% of the business’s waste, but it would save the company money by treating green waste as a resource. The worst-case scenario is that your boss says no, but they’ve still noticed you’re taking an interest in higher levels of interest and responsibility in their business.
Taking initiative can help you get ahead in your job, but you might see greater dividends if you invest in yourself, rather than in your workplace.
Before I started my podcast, there were a number of noteworthy gardening podcasts, but there were no Australian podcasts which focused on learning the art and science of plant care at an industry level. Even though the audience is a relatively small niche, I’ve been given opportunities such as public speaking gigs, freelance writing, media gigs and more, because the podcast consistently puts me in the right place at the right time.
Investing in yourself can yield higher rewards than investing in your workplace, but self-awareness is key. Do you have what it takes to pull this project off? Will anybody value what you’re bringing to the table? Or are you better off committing to your day job?
Be aware not to “mow anyone else’s grass.” Workplace politics are a real phenomenon, and if you try to take on somebody else’s responsibility, they might get off-side with you. This could hurt your chances for advancing your career, depending on who you’ve upset.
Saying “yes” to opportunities is only one side of the coin, though. Sometimes you’ll need to say “no.”
If your job is just a job, that’s fine. You might have other priorities outside of work that you want to focus on, even if they don’t relate to your career. If your boss really needs you to work late and you have a painting class to get to, at the end of the day… it’s your boss’s problem. Your job probably isn’t on the line, and that painting class will bring you more fulfilment.
Where you are in your career will also dictate how much you’re willing to take on. When you’re building your name in the industry, you’ll benefit from taking on any speaking gigs you can, even if they’re unpaid. Once you reach a certain point in your career, speaking will no longer be about what you can get, but what you can give.
Some opportunities just aren’t worth it, especially if you’ve already got a full plate. As a podcaster, I have companies ask me to attend their launch days. If they don’t have a budget to sponsor my podcast, I can’t justify my time to help promote their products.
But if you’re trying to advance your career in our industry, pay attention to the opportunities you’re turning away from on a regular basis. They may not be huge, life-changing opportunities, but how do you think you earn the big ones? You need to start small.
Get out of your comfort zone and build a mindset, and a reputation, for positivity and expansion in your professional career.
Daniel Fuller
M: 042 6169 708
E: hello@plantsgrowhere.com
W: plantsgrowhere.com