What are the top ways to show initiative and get promoted at a small business?

Do more than is asked of you. Look for additional ways of adding value. If there's something you feel needs improvement, when bringing this to the company's attention always offer up a potential solution.

Ensure you are always adding capacity & not taking away. Many people try to "take initiative" by asking what else you can do, however that actually takes capacity AWAY from others who then have to figure out what you can do and teach you how. It it so much more beneficial to a busy small business to come with proposed ideas and solutions that do not take away from others' capacity

Do things without being told to do them. Become a leader by doing these things without asking or being told to do them. Don’t be a kiss-ass either or a “yes man”. When your boss asks for feedback, be honest, I know this is a shocking concept in todays workplace, but if your boss is worth their salt, they will appreciate the honest feedback.

Whenever you can, aim to add value, but be cautious not to burn yourself out in the process. It's essential to manage your time effectively to maintain the quality of your work. Business owners truly appreciate employees who show initiative, making it an excellent strategy for securing a promotion.

Have the ability to multi task in such a challenging world is a gift. Focusing driven is the best way to achieve success. Don't let distraction disturb your mood to accomplish set goals. Stay dedicated, determined and devoted to positive results.

I always take the approach of being the 'idea guy.' You want some outside the box thinking? Come to me. Most people feel challenged in producing creative outputs. But it's my nature. I am creative by default and can fill that gap for any team.

Strategic thinkers in small businesses are highly valued...at least they are from my perspective! Showcase that you can think this way, and you'll be leveraged more in the future making you indispensable! You can start by showing your thinking style in group meetings, then developing short presentations on how you plan to solve problems for approval, then shift to a more informal format of approvals for your problem solving ability where bosses and business owners can feel comfortable slowly taking their hands off the wheel when it comes to problem-solving and trust in you more. The bosses and owners in small businesses most likely want to do this and you're giving them a chance to.

Framing—how you describe a problem, and what context you put your description in—can change everything. Telling a story—a metaphor, or a problem/solution story about a similar issue you helped to solve or you know about how others solved—will fire up the imaginations of others. Often the way a problem is "held" mentally can almost automatically lead to its solution.

Taking ownership is a mindset. It's not about checking things off a list; it's about knowing what should be on the list and why it matters. When appropriate, figure things out and get them done without waiting to be told what to do. If you can take work off the owner's plate, with attention to detail and genuine care about the clients and the end result, they will love you for it, and you'll have more opportunities to learn and grow.

Employees in general underestimate how gratifying, and often really helpful it is, for employers to be approached with new ideas, suggestions, feedback etc. Don't expect most of your input to be adopted, especially straight away. That doesn't matter - even bad ideas help a business owner or executive to think outside the square. Be creative. Pressure test your ideas. Check with trusted, learned others...then go for it. The fact that you bothered to do so, immediately sets you apart from most of your colleagues.

When encountering challenges or issues, present well-thought-out solutions to your supervisor instead of just identifying problems. Demonstrate problem-solving skills and a proactive mindset.

This is an important tactic. Amazing people seek feedback, appreciate the feedback, and act on the feedback. Just as a customer who leaves feedback loves to hear back from the company that their comments were taken to heart, and really appreciates when the company mentions what they will do about it, so does the person inside a company who takes time to share their thoughts with employees they work with or manage/supervise.

Be receptive to constructive criticism. Instead of getting defensive, try to listen carefully and thoughtfully. Allow yourself time to absorb what has been said, and then either seek clarification on how you can improve or take a moment to reflect on it yourself. However, it’s also essential to discern between constructive criticism and mere criticism. Learning to differentiate between feedback that fosters your growth and criticism that lacks actionable advice is crucial for your personal and professional development.

As has been noted, the key to asking for blunt, honest feedback, is to be humble enough to ponder whatever is provided. Don't be offended if some of it is negative. Now all you need to do is show you listened, thought it through, extracted any value, and set about improving. Results are the ultimate test for an manager or employer. You took their time, they invested in you, now prove to them that it was well worth their while.

Be someone your colleagues can trust and enjoy working with. Make an effort to be approachable and supportive, showing readiness to assist others with their challenges. By doing so, you won’t just be boosting your own value within the company but also significantly contributing to the well-being of your coworkers, managers, and the overall organization. Your ability to foster a trustworthy and cooperative work environment will enhance both individual and collective success and satisfaction.

Nothing means more than being supported from within. Leaders take risks in proposing new ideas, plans and objectives. To be backed up publicly and privately is gold to bosses.

Stay positive, maintain a good work ethic, and be a team player. Show enthusiasm for your work, stay engaged, and contribute positively to the workplace environment.

I agree with micro managing kills creativity and can create confusion. Keep lines of communication active by sharing ideas in a non authoritative manner. Be a team player and supporter not a dictator. It so important to stay in your lane as a team player to keep the team players from crashing into the wall of misplaced and misuse of authoritarianism which leads to disaster and destruction.

Most small companies have thin staffing. Coming up with creative ideas to do more with less, streamlining processes, adding a unique perspective are valuable to an organization at this level. Finding ways to be efficient and make the company stand out are crucial from being a small and struggling business to one that is thriving and can reward the team.

One of the best things I’ve done is kept a “win” or “brag” folder on my computer. ⭐️ Copies of positive feedback from those up the food chain, clients, and others. ⭐️ List of projects that went well, with any relevant positive outcomes, KPIs, etc. ⭐️ Listing of any marketing/business development activities When done right, it’s a good reminder of good work you have done, can provide motivation on rough days, and can help when it comes time for evaluations.

Get validated in front of target customers or CXs in case of B2B and B2C. Within India followings will work for sure: ✅ Get Trade/Incorporation License ✅ Get MSME Certified ✅ Get IAF ISO Certification ✅ Get IEC/FSSAI ✅ Get GSTIN ✅ File Taxes on time ✅ Certs from MyGov will even speak for your brand

Request regular feedback from your supervisor and colleagues to understand areas for improvement. Act on this feedback to continuously enhance your performance and skill set.

Have an open and honest conversation with your supervisor about your career aspirations within the company. Discuss your interest in taking on more responsibilities and growing within the organization.

It's crucial to ask! Business owners are often preoccupied, and while they may recognize that you deserve a promotion, they might not get around to it on their own. When you approach them, come prepared with reasons to support your request.

Consider the "if I don't, who will" attitude. That means you'll do things outside of the role you were hired to do when it is deemed necessary.

Menos drama e mais ação. Pequenas empresas ou empresas em crescimento tem pouca gente e pouco espaço para dramas, politicagens e afins. Faça parte das pessoas que resolvam problemas e que trazem soluções.

Become valuable to the business! It’s a small business find out what they need to grow and help in that area. If you are helping that business grow you will be invaluable.

I believe a stand up comedian once said (I paraphrase) 80% of success is showing up. When I say SHOWING UP I mean more than just being there physically or remotely. You show up in small businesses when your presence is felt creatively by others, especially management, as vital to achieving objectives, goals & the mission. It means offering solutions even when you won't get the credit. Okay we're not talking about altruism. You must counter when someone claims ownership for your big idea. Sure, you must ensure that management recognizes you contributions, but in reality In a small business no one is really invisible. So enthusiastically join the team. If you SHOW UP it's likely you'll be leading that team. (From a small biz consultant) .

Barack Obama has a good quote here. “Just learn to get things done.” If you have a bias for action and a good attitude, then everything else will fall into place over time. If you do not score the promotion over time, you will have enough for your resume for the next opportunity.