Say Yes

One common thread I see with a lot of high performers is their willingness to say 'Yes' to opportunities much faster than others.

They typically volunteer to do that hard project or the non-glamorous role much more often. Over time, this builds self-confidence, & credibility with the leadership. They soon become go-to people that are frequently tapped for marquee roles, & relied on as trusted advisors. Over time they even become more adept at actively asking for roles/ opportunities that interest them, and often (not always) landing them.

The simple act of taking initiative on even small projects that may not be your core day job, but are well within the adjacent responsibility set, can shift your career trajectory substantially.

In contrast, there are others who often view a new role or an added opportunity with suspicion, peppered with self-doubts like -
"How will this look on my profile", OR
"Not sure I have experience of doing this", OR
"This looks too difficult (or mundane)"
"Why rock the boat, if things are going ok"

I am not suggesting that we volunteer every time; it depends on your life and professional goals. But if we do take initiative, it is one of the ways of building your brand and becoming the go-to-person in our teams.