Use Work Groups to Achieve Your Big-picture Goals

If you work in a corporate-type of environment, you’ll probably find yourself being asked by your boss to serve on a “volunteer” workgroup or committee. There are pros and cons to this. Some of the pros are your opportunities to learn new skills and meet new people and network, especially when the committee extends beyond your immediate office. My point is that if you join one of these types of workgroups, don’t get yourself into the hole of taking meeting minutes and scheduling rooms. Make sure that the role you take on the team and those duties or projects you volunteer for align with your future goals.

If you want to shift from your Admin Assistant role to Information Technology, volunteer to maintain the intranet website or volunteer to do something IT related. Be more deliberate about what you volunteer for and the projects you lead when the choice is yours. Don’t be on an extra work group just because management will give you a cookie. Leverage your membership in as many ways as possible. Target what committees you volunteer for and the duties you complete to your big-picture goal so you’ll be more competitive when you’re ready to take on your big-picture goal.