Are you great at your job?

How does anyone even answer that question?

Do people often come to you for advice or to bounce ideas off of you? These are positive signs that you're probably in the ballpark. Even better, do you love what you do and feel good about it most days? If so, congratulations! You're in a select group of people who have found their calling. (and are probably pretty solid at what you do too)

While not everyone is lucky enough to have a career they love, there are sure signs that indicate you're exceptionally talented in your field. I searched out the top seven signs I found to show you that you're a working rockstar.

1. Do you really enjoy your work (most days)

Ok, hands up here. I love my job. I know that may sound cliché, but it's the truth. I'm always thinking about what I do and how to get better at it. I care deeply about the people and the companies I work with. Yes, I am that person who wakes up most days excited to go to work, and I feel fortunate that I can say that.

Of course, there are times when the job isn't always fun. I mean, who doesn't want to sleep in every once in a while? Even I cringe when faced with an admin afternoon. There are challenges and obstacles, and sometimes it can be frustrating. But even on those days, I know that I'm doing something meaningful to me. I know that my work is making a difference to the people I work with, and that keeps me going.

I'm not saying that this is the one thing that makes a person great at their job, but my goodness, it helps when you are interested in what you do and want to get better at it every day.

2. You are constantly learning and growing

It is often said that we learn something new every day. While this may be true, it is helpful to consciously learn and grow in our careers. With the ever-changing job market landscape, keeping skills up-to-date and continuously learning new things can give you that edge and coveted feel-good factor.

Thankfully, there are so many resources available to help us do this, whether it is taking an online course, attending a seminar, or simply reading articles related to what we do. All of these things compound over time to make us better.

People who are great at their jobs consciously or sometimes unconsciously make commitments to learning and growing, so they can stay ahead of the curve and position themselves for success.

3. You focus on serving your customers/audience

Regardless of your industry, keeping your customers or audience in mind is always part of the win. After all, they are why many of us have jobs in the first place! So while it's important to be great at what you do, it's even more important to focus on doing your best for those good folks out there in the world.

That means always striving to provide them with the best possible experience, whether it's through your product or service. It also means being responsive to their needs and feedback. You know this all too well. You know that by keeping customers top of mind, they can ensure that they're always providing them with the best possible experience. That feels good which makes it easier to be great.

4. You take care of yourself and your health

As many of us know, taking care of yourself and your health is essential to maintaining peak performance. When you feel your best, you're able to give your best, and that extra effort can make all the difference in your career.

Great employees (I include us self-employed peeps here, too) know that they need to take care of themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally to be at the top of their game. Making time for regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and taking measures to reduce stress.

However, not enough of us know how to ask for help when needed and seek professional support when necessary. Not all of us are strong as we need to be when it comes to asking for help, but we're slowly but surely getting better in this area, myself included. Investing in your own well-being, you will be able to stay focused and motivated and deliver time after time.

5. You have a clear vision and mission

You know you are great at your job when you realise it requires more than technical skills and a strong work ethic. It also needs a clear vision and mission. Without these, staying focused and motivated may not be easy, and you may become bogged down in the daily grind.

Holding a clear vision can help you see the big picture and understand how your work fits into the larger scheme of things. It also helps to give a sense of direction when you encounter setbacks or difficulties. Which happens ALL the time.

Likewise, a strong mission statement can inspire you to keep going even when the going gets tough. It can remind you why you're doing what you're doing, and it can help focus your efforts on the most critical tasks. So if you're looking to be great at your job, dust down the mood board and create a clear vision for yourself.

6. You focus on the positive

Focusing on the positive means you take the time to recognise what works well and build upon it. You take responsibility for your actions and strive to create a positive impact wherever you go. By doing these things, you are naturally creating a solid foundation for success and overall feeling better yourself.

7. You focus on your strengths

When it comes to your job, it's important to focus on your strengths. Chances are, you're great because you excel in certain areas that matter most to your area. By honing in on your strengths, you can become even better at what you do. Additionally, focusing on those strengths makes you more likely to enjoy your work. After all, there's nothing more satisfying than using your talents to achieve great things.

I remember during my time in corporate, we had constant workshops and seminars that focused on removing weaknesses and improving areas where individuals were weak. This never made sense to me. I knew there were and are whole swatches of areas where I was never going to be top of the class and I didn't care to be either. Other people had the skills and interest to shine there, I was only ever going to be a liability at best.

Time spent on levelling up strengths is a much better use of company resources. That's just my thought on the matter.

Summary

Being great at your job might look different than you thought. Have you proved to yourself now that you are great at your job? And, if you don't believe it, look at these seven signs again, don't be modest. Be honest. You've earned it. Never let anyone tell you you're not good enough or can't do something. You are capable and confident, two of the most essential qualities to have in any profession. So go out there and show everyone what you're made of!

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