How millenials can get noticed in the work place

I must admit, I've been in the exact position you're in right now whilst reading this. You are fairly young, full of potential, have got some great ideas, ready to make a big difference and build an impactful career! But... no one listens to you because of your age and current job position, no one takes you or your ideas seriously - are they even listening to you in the first place?

This was me once, and, unfortunately, that's the way some businesses are; they are stuck in old, out-dated methods, can't move with the times, and don't understand that flexibility, adaptability, and a learning mindset are the most powerful tools for a leader and for any business to grow.

So, today, what I am going to teach you is some effective methods and techniques that you can use right now to start getting respect in the workplace, and start getting your ideas in people's heads! Let's get started...

5 ways millenials can get noticed in the workplace

Lesson one - You are the problem

I know it's a hard pill to swallow, but the first thing you have to understand and accept is that you are the problem. Yep, I've said it - it's you! Fight it all you want, but once you accept this you give yourself power. What I mean by that is once you accept that it's you and not them, then you have complete control over the outcome and nobody else can influence it. It's you who can't get your ideas across, it's you who can't influence others, and it's you who can change this! Take 100% responsibility for your career and the route that it's going to take.

Lesson two - Change your perception of yourself

How you perceive yourself is how others perceive you. What this means is if you perceive yourself as someone with low-confidence, low-intelligence, unattractive, a pushover, or whatever other story you tell yourself every day, then your mind will unconsciously behave, speak and create results like the thoughts you're creating. Therefore, everyone else will notice this about you and treat you accordingly.

Think about it - have you ever met someone who oozes assertiveness, intelligent, and confidence, and everyone seems to be magnetised toward them? Then, on the flip side, you've met someone with low confidence, slumped shoulders, head down, and you just want to get away from this person as soon as possible! Change others' perceptions of you by first changing the perception of yourself.

Lesson three - Fake it until you make it

You may be thinking 'but I don't feel confident and assertive - that's the problem!', and I get that a lot of people do, but there is a big misconception that confidence and assertiveness, or any other positive attribute, is some God-given natural ability. Let me tell you that it is not. Let me tell you the truth, nice and clearly, all positive attributes are learned and earned.

If you want to feel more confident and assertive, act like someone who is, think like someone who is, speak like someone who is, dress like someone who is, and use your body language like someone who is. It feels so unnatural at first, but what you must understand is that all attributes are a habit of nature; the more you train the body to act confident and assertive, the more it will become second nature and a habit that you will do without even thinking. It takes time but eventually, like any other skill, you will learn it.

Lesson four - Identify someone who inspires you

Find a model. You know that you want to be more confident, more assertive, or whatever else, but you don't know what it feels like or looks like within you, so you're stuck, right? Wrong! The next stage is to find a mentor, online or in person, and study them. Study them hard, watch how they walk, how they talk, and how they dress. If you can speak to them, get an idea of how they think. You still want to be you, but how can you incorporate their mannerisms and make them a part of you? Watch them in different situations speaking to people, groups, or handling situations - what do they do differently which makes them so successful? Learn it and earn it!

Lesson five - Write down your aim

Action and influence time. You've got the skills, so it's time to act upon them. Write out a clear few sentences of the person you're trying to be every day, and read it each time you're going into work, a meeting, networking, or any other situation in which you wish to be different. It's all about clarity, knowing the person that you wish to be and acting upon it every single day.

Bonus

Influencing others. You have a great proposal, idea, or design. You know your target and who needs to see it, but how do you get their attention? And, moreover, how do you get them to buy your idea? Here are some quick tips you can use to do this...

• People buy on emotion and justify with logic afterward, so remember you're selling them on the idea of the future with your idea, product, proposal etc. You need to paint them a picture of what it will be like - the new future with your idea, not the nuts and bolts of things; that comes later on.
• The most important thing you're selling is yourself, and this is why all the steps before are so important - people are buying into you. They have to believe, trust and like you - it doesn't matter how good the product or proposal is if no one wants you! Sell yourself before 'X'.
• What's in it for me? Your boss needs to see how it benefits him/her; if you can't show how it benefits them, it's a no deal, and sad as it is, most people won't do something if there is no reward for them. So, show your boss the financial reward, or if there isn't one then create a reward for them! Explain how good it'll make them look when it goes right, and explain that, if it doesn't, you will take the full responsibility and claim ownership.

To sum up, it can be tough being a millennial, but you have the ideas, and you are the future, so show your worth and your value. Become the best version of you, get out there, and make a difference.