How to Be Successful in Your Job and Get a Raise in the Process

You've worked hard, stayed late, gone on business trip if asked to, but yet you don't seem to be getting ahead at work. What is it you're doing that's stopping you from being promoted or getting a good raise? Maybe you should ask yourself what you're not doing that could be hindering your promotion or raise.

Have you heard the phrase the early bird gets the worm? The same applies in the business world. Many successful people are often the first ones in the office each morning. They usually arrive before their peers and their boss. So what does being early into the office and getting worms have to do with anything? As it turns out, it has a lot to do with it.

Bosses love employees who are dedicated and show that dedication. One excellent way to do that is to come in each day at least 30 minutes early. Imagine your boss' surprise when he or she comes in and you're already hard at work. And if you do this every day, your boss will soon know that you're a hard worker.

But coming in early is just half of it, in that extra time you must use it to its fullest and be productive. Here are some simple tips to use this newly found time each day to be productive

Did you Plan to Fail or Fail to Plan?

At the end of each work day, you should devote 15 minutes to planning the next day. It can be as simple as prioritizing what it is you have to accomplish the next day. Then, leave your list on your desk so when you come in the next morning it's right there and you're ready to work on what you ranked as the highest priority.

They Try to Make Me Go To Rehab, I Say No, No, No

Amy Winehouse has no problems saying "no" to rehab (although I suspect she should say "yes") and you too should have no problems saying "no." When colleagues interrupt you during your early time and ask you to do something, don't be afraid to say "no" and explain that you've come in early to work on something else but you'll be happy to discuss what it is they want you to do later in the day.

Don't Answer the Telephone

Business phones have voicemail for a reason. Not only to take messages when you're away, but to take messages when you're busy. Let the voicemail do what it was designed for and let your calls go to voicemail. Then, at a preset time each day, listen to, and respond to all of your calls at once.

Email - The Great Time Zapper

If the first thing you do each morning at work is log into email, you've already lost the most productive time of your day. You'll soon be sucked into responding to emails. Rather, you should not open your email for at least the first hour of your day. Instead, use that time to work on project or other important tasks. Like voicemail, schedule a time each day where you read and respond to your email.

By following the above tips, you'll have a head-start on your day while being much more productive. Soon, your boss and colleagues will notice your dedication and improved productivity and before you know it, you could be in for a raise or even a promotion.