Be goal-oriented, not task-focused, to get ahead at work

Reliable workers are often taken for granted. Strategic changes like highlighting your work can change the game

- Geetika Sachdev

Shruti Mehta, a content strategist at a Mumbai advertising agency, takes on any task assigned to her, even if she has too much on her plate. She describes herself as a 'workhorse' but complains that it has not helped her career as she has not been promoted in three years. "Despite being a reliable resource and never refusing any task, my boss has always preferred others who don't put in as much work but deliver big wins. That's something I lack," she says.

Thomas Edison's famous line, "There's no substitute for hard work", has long served as a guiding principle. While perseverance and sincerity are crucial for professional growth, hard work alone cannot guarantee success anymore.

"The marketplace and ecosystem are evolving rapidly and experience alone is not enough to keep up with these changes. While experience provides valuable lessons, it can become obsolete if not complemented by new knowledge and skills," says Srinivas Krishnan, managing director (South Asia) at global logistics company, Crown Worldwide Group.

Hard workers are typically task-oriented and may show little interest in anything beyond immediate responsibilities. So they assume the role of "reliable troubleshooters", who can consistently put in the hours needed to complete their work.