How to Become a Top Performer at Work: 10 Proven Tips (2026)

Ever watch a coworker get promoted while you're sitting there wondering what they did differently? They positioned themselves as a high-performing employee — someone who delivers results, tackles tough projects, and makes themselves impossible to ignore.

High performers get the promotions, raises, and respect from team members that average employees don't. Top performers consistently crush expectations, solve problems without being asked, and build a reputation that makes them top talent.

You can do this too. It takes effort to showcase your skills and jump on challenging opportunities, but it's doable!

Headway has 2,000+ book summaries on productivity, leadership, and career growth in 15-minute reads. Learn what separates top performers from average employees without spending hours on it.

📘 Download Headway and start thinking like a top performer.

Quick answer: Four ways to become a top performer at work

1. Don't flip out when you get criticized. When feedback comes at you in real time, just take it and figure out how to optimize what you're doing. The highest performers know criticism helps them improve — it's about adaptability, not taking things personally.

2. Keep building your skills. Work on your career development by getting better at stuff like critical thinking, leadership, and managing your time. It makes you valuable in any work environment and ready when something bigger comes along.

3. Go after the scary projects. Take on challenging work that makes you a little nervous. When you pull it off, your performance metrics show everyone what you're capable of without you having to say a word.

4. Always look for ways to level up. The highest performers never stop learning — workshops, books, whatever works. Ask yourself what you could do better and actually do something about it.

How to become a top performer at work: Ten strategies that get results

Being a top performer is more than fetching your boss a cup of coffee every morning and hoping they will notice your efforts. Here are ten top tips on how to become one.

1. Demonstrate natural curiosity

Curiosity may be a natural human trait, but only a select few know how to use it to their advantage. You can use curiosity to help you become interested in career-boosting activities, such as reading. If you're looking for a way to become a top performer in your field, you should consider reading some specialized books. 

High achievers use curiosity to hit their career goals faster — they ask questions, dig deeper, and actually want to learn new things. Companies care about the retention of curious people because they solve problems instead of just doing the bare minimum. Mix it up by jumping into a webinar or taking an online course that teaches you stuff you didn't know before.

2. Focus on your goals

There are opportunities to move up in your profession in most of the corporate world if you set goals and act upon them. Making it to the top of the corporate ladder may not be as out of your league as you thought. With this mindset in place, you can achieve short-term and long-term goals that seem beyond your current reach. 

Moreover, demonstrating to your boss that you have the ambition and motivation to pursue goals can help you establish a reputation as a top-performing employee.

Creating a list of goals and outlining the steps to achieve them demonstrates that you are ready to take on more challenging roles. You can do this by thinking of ways to surpass your current means. For example, you may aspire to become the manager of your workplace. As you set this goal, you can then focus on taking the appropriate action by exhibiting leadership skills and building positive relationships with management.

3. Be open to criticism

You aren't exempt from constructive feedback and performance reviews, even as a top-performing employee. No matter where you are on the corporate ranking, there may still be areas that your boss thinks you need to work on. Accepting that there is always room for improvement is often a key distinction that can set you apart as a high performer, as it demonstrates your willingness to maintain consistent growth.

You may want to prepare how you will react when criticism comes your way. A negative reaction to a poor employee performance review can tell your boss that you aren't ready to handle higher positions that require more pressure and feedback. Instead, show them that you are eager to grow from your mistakes and use their feedback to improve your shortcomings and build your professional skills. 

As such, your boss will be more likely to view you as someone who takes their professional development seriously and is willing to improve wherever necessary.

📘 Try Headway for career insights that separate you from average employees.

4. Improve your skills

Demonstrating to your boss that your skill set is constantly growing and improving is a great way to show your willingness to continue learning on the job. These skills may depend on the field that you are in. For example, retail workers may focus on improving their product knowledge, while business professionals might look at their networking skills.

Some skills you should consider working on as a professional in any field include:

• critical thinking;

• leadership;

• time management;

• problem-solving;

• teamwork;

• organizational skills.

Building a toolbelt full of these skills will ensure you are well-equipped to handle any problem or adversity that arises in the workplace. Not only does this demonstrate to your employer that you possess a broad range of abilities, but it also exposes you to projects that require knowledge from fields you have studied or have experience in. In turn, you will receive more opportunities to showcase your skills and receive professional benefits.

5. Show respect to everyone

Working in a corporate environment means being exposed to a highly diverse group of people. In this case, employees need to possess proficient social skills that enable them to get along with anyone they encounter. Social skills can enable you to build professional relationships and facilitate effective networking, leading to various benefits such as job offers and opportunities to participate in professional projects.

For instance, a high-performing employee will treat all colleagues with the same respect they would show their boss. This shows colleagues and management that you take the time to get to know people and understand their roles within the company. 

It also identifies you as potential management material with a healthy work dynamic and strong professional relationships. In a manager, this is a highly sought-after quality that demonstrates your leadership skills and ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of people.

6. Put in consistent effort

As a top performer, you should be willing to go above and beyond every project’s expectations. For example, consistently meeting deadlines and targets demonstrates your commitment and effective time management. You may also decide to start side projects to work on in your free time, demonstrating your eagerness to build the company.

Besides surpassing present high potential expectations, there needs to be a constant level of effort that demonstrates your capacity for hard work. A good way to do this is by completing tasks to the highest quality each time. Remaining consistent with your project quality conveys that you can manage any task assigned to you, regardless of the skill level or time commitment.

📘 Get Headway and discover how to act and think like a top talent 

7. Maintains a positive mindset

Many successful people can attest that having a positive mindset can have a profoundly positive impact on your life and career. The reason for this is simple — showing up to work each day with a negative attitude can make you less motivated and more likely to perform poorly. A positive mindset enables you to view every situation optimistically and make the workplace a more pleasant and agreeable place.

Maintaining a positive outlook can be done by changing your initial reaction to certain circumstances. For instance, if your boss decides to give you extra work over the weekend, you can view this as an opportunity to showcase your drive and determination rather than seeing it as an inconvenience. 

Then, you can confidently present your finished work and demonstrate your ability to remain optimistic in the face of challenges.

8. Takes on challenging projects

If you want your photo framed on the "Employee of the Year" wall, taking on more projects outside your comfort zone may pay off. In particular, you might consider working overtime occasionally to demonstrate your hard work ethic and willingness to complete tasks on time. 

You could also emphasize helping employees with their duties and projects, which gives the impression that you are highly knowledgeable and capable of handling a high workload.

Also, consider taking your current projects further by going above and beyond your initial requirements. However, ensure you receive approval from your management team before making any changes to an existing project. This might look like creating a professional slideshow with carefully thought-out slides and confidently presenting them to the team.

📘 Try a 'Disappear for 3 Months' challenge — it'll be easier for you to take on a challenging project, and as a bonus, you'll boost your personal growth!

9. Seeks growth opportunities

All high-performing employees have one thing in common — they are constantly seeking opportunities to help them grow as individuals. This growth mindset involves continually working on existing skills and improving oneself daily. 

For instance, a good employee would take advantage of any resources provided by management, such as access to professional development workshops or participation in weekly team meetings. You can also read books, listen to podcasts, and acquire certifications in your field.

You may also seek growth opportunities by looking within yourself to see your progress. Consider asking yourself questions like, "How can I be a better employee?" and "What are some ways my efforts can be noticed by my boss or management team?" Reflecting on these questions will help you identify where you are excelling and which areas require improvement.

10. Can work with little to no guidance

It isn't unheard of to see managers praise employees for working well independently. Independent working is just as much a skill as being a team player and can benefit your professional image. Bosses tend to favor employees capable of solving problems without needing to take others from their line of duty for help.

Although a desire to learn consistently is a desirable quality, asking too many questions can give your colleagues the impression that you aren't sure how to do your job without excessive help. 

Maintain your image as self-assured and sophisticated by attempting to figure things out on your own before seeking help. Then, collaborate with your colleagues and seek their guidance on any issues needing others' attention.

Become a top performer today — Download Headway!

Headway offers a way to focus on becoming a high performer at work by listening to 15-minute summaries of leading self-help books from various genres. You can experience benefits such as promotions, improved networking relationships, and a more positive mindset at work.

The Headway app provides a comprehensive range of summaries on the world's bestselling self-help books on career guidance and professional development. Users can participate in fun challenges and achievements while tracking their reading progress. 

With Headway, you can indulge in easy-to-digest reading material and learn important information to help you become a top performer at work.

📘 Download the Headway app to access a comprehensive library of over 2000+ summaries of your favorite career-boosting books!