January 23, 2025
Today’s fast-paced work environment prioritizes innovation. Pioneers across industries fearlessly push boundaries, and their impact extends beyond the workplace into their communities and the world. Knowing how to make an impact at work can be the defining factor in achieving personal and professional success.
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues shaping the workplace and taking on more routine tasks, many organizations place more emphasis on strong, connected and collaborative teams that prioritize growth. Whether changing careers or entering the workplace for the first time, professionals who make an impact at work will enjoy their journeys. Impact begins with a collaborative culture that pushes boundaries and drives fearless change.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to make a positive impact, provide real-life examples and offer tips on finding a rewarding position.
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More people than ever want jobs where they can make a positive impact. A recent survey from the American Psychological Association shows that employees value making a difference at work, and 86% feel that their work positively impacts society. Understanding how to create impact is powerful.
Making an impact is closely related to professional happiness. Professionals who make a positive impact often attain remarkable career growth and success. They fearlessly set new performance standards and push the boundaries of possibility. When teams set out to make an impact, they can solve some of the world’s most significant and pressing challenges.
Some of the many benefits of creating positive impact include:
Consider the ways professionals can contribute to their companies.
Professionals who honestly analyze their strengths and growth areas can set realistic goals around positive impact. They can use their strengths to uplift others and improve their growth areas to maximize their impact.
As team dynamics strengthen, so does the opportunity for innovation. Reaching out to co-workers and asking about their lives builds meaningful professional connections. It offers an opportunity for professionals to build camaraderie and connect positively with those around them. Company events offer an excellent opportunity to build these connections and foster great relationships. Professionals should take many opportunities to build trust with their teams, support their peers and strengthen existing relationships.
Positivity at work often spreads quickly throughout an organization. An optimistic, problem-solving attitude changes the way that teams work. For example, a leader who encounters challenges and views them as opportunities for growth encourages their team to do the same. Demonstrating agility and resilience helps encourage the entire team, so professionals should look for ways to demonstrate positivity and authenticity, from recommending books to following through on commitments. The whole organization benefits when it uplifts and supports others!
Collaboration and effective communication create the cornerstones of innovation. Professionals can make an impact by being open and available in their conversations. They can show their peers they want to offer support, advice and feedback. When professionals advocate for themselves, offer beneficial feedback and support others, they prove their openness to discussing important topics. They also contribute to finding solutions rather than feeding into conflict or confusion.
Pushing boundaries and achieving excellence can only happen with feedback. Candidates should ask for constructive criticism and embrace it with open arms. In addition to pinpointing growth areas, giving and accepting feedback creates a culture of insight. Professionals should actively encourage colleagues and superiors to share thoughts and opinions on their performance and make it clear that they respect and value any external input.
Demonstrating a willingness to communicate and improve inspires everyone on a professional team, leading to enhanced trust and cooperation. An openness to feedback nurtures a climate of development and offers an excellent way to make a genuine impact.
Professionals who approach challenges with a solution-based mindset are often more productive and proactive. They think outside the box and take calculated risks. They want to be part of a solution and encourage their colleagues to feel the same. Motivating their peers to share ideas makes team members feel valued and heard while bringing fresh perspectives into the mix.
A proactive, hands-on attitude can improve professionals’ competency levels and job satisfaction. Company leaders have a vision. They need people on the ground to pioneer and devise solutions. Professionals can take ownership by speaking up and taking action. If they work in an environment where leaders value their impact, they should feel comfortable making mistakes, learning and trying again.
At its heart, impact involves change and innovation. Making an impact means improving and pushing teams and products forward. Progress can be slow or fast, but professionals who focus on the small things and drive projects over the finish line make a maximum, lasting impression.
Formal or informal mentorship is an excellent example of making a meaningful impact. Professionals should identify colleagues who would benefit from mentorship and help wherever possible. Sharing knowledge benefits the individual, their close colleagues and the organization as a whole. When candidates enter a new role, they should seek mentorship from others to better understand how things work at the organization and navigate their way to success.
When people feel engaged in their work, they remain focused on the present moment. Engagement means making an emotional commitment to the organization and its goals. For professionals to genuinely care about an organization, they should feel energized by their role within it. They can make a meaningful difference by connecting with the reasons they do the work they do.
The more skills and knowledge people accumulate, the more impactful they become. Professionals can only drive growth if they continue to improve their performance. Continuous learning inspires others to pursue their own development, which strengthens the whole team.
Professionals can take courses, attend networking events and read publications related to their skills. They can also branch out and focus on sharpening soft skills, like time management and communication, which unlock more opportunities for growth. Sharing their expertise with their teams only compounds their impact. They can do this through mentoring, seminars and knowledge-sharing sessions.
People perform at their best when they know how to shut down from work and invest in their well-being. One of the best ways to achieve this balance involves setting boundaries between work and personal lives to prevent burnout. Reflecting on wellness needs and prioritizing important personal activities can help team members set aside time for themselves outside of work. The results include reduced stress, improved health and better work performance.
When other team members see the difference work-life balance makes, they may feel motivated to make similar changes. Everyone comes to work fresh, engaged and ready to innovate, which ultimately impacts the entire organization.
Doing more than expected can lead to professional fulfillment and recognition, provided it doesn’t interfere with work-life balance. Professionals can take on additional tasks, volunteer and partake in ongoing learning initiatives to demonstrate their commitment to themselves and their organizations. Showcasing their creativity, meeting deadlines and fulfilling responsibilities leaves a lasting impression on their teams and inspires others to do the same.
Professionals can start by taking ownership of their work and frequently identifying new improvement opportunities. They should strive for excellence in everything they do, offering support to colleagues and delivering unique and groundbreaking solutions.
Professionals can create a positive environment through recognition, whether in a leadership position or starting their first job. They can take the time to recognize colleagues’ large and small contributions. A simple thank-you note or shoutout in a meeting or team-building activity can have a profound impact. Celebrating the wins improves morale, reinforces teamwork and encourages others to strive for excellence and positivity.
Making an impact can come in many forms. It can be as simple as creating a positive workplace atmosphere or as complex as overhauling operational strategies to improve overall efficiency. It can be an internal change or an innovation that impacts millions of lives. Explore these positive impact examples.
Shane Swinehart, a Site Leader at Danaher’s Cytiva office in New Zealand, led an employee-driven project that impacted his entire organization. He had always seen Styrofoam as the industry standard — essential for maintaining the necessary temperatures for delivering lifesaving vaccines and therapies. After a trip to Indonesia, everything changed for Shane. He saw marine animals eating plastics and decided his organization needed to adjust.
Temperature regulation is crucial for delivering medications. The industry relies on specialized packaging like polystyrene to meet cold shipping regulations and ensure products remain viable when patients need them the most. Polystyrene may be effective, but it also makes up 10%-40% of plastics found in waterways. Shane knows everyone has a voice at Danaher, so he used his to make a far-reaching impact.
Cytiva’s Innovation Accelerator Program drove Shane’s changes faster than he expected. Alongside colleagues Brandon Papke and Thibault Renaud, Shane created a project team called “Cargo Kiwi.” They started small but eventually earned the resources and expertise to create a packaging prototype. After months of testing and collaboration with TemperPack, Cytiva’s packaging partner, Cargo Kiwi went live in 2023. Cytiva launched a 90% renewable packaging solution to replace polystyrene. By 2025, they will eliminate polystyrene altogether.
Noreen Karim hails from Malakand, a small village in northwestern Pakistan. Today, she works as a Research Scientist III at Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT). In Malakand, there was considerable resistance to women’s education, and Noreen faced threats from the Taliban. Yet, she continued to “resist the resistance” and follow her passions. Her current role at IDT involves developing products for disease detection.
Through passion and resilience, Noreen impacts her organization and the world. She presented at the general meeting of Advances in Genome Biology and Technology and received excellent feedback. She embodies continuous improvement and uses the Danaher Business System (DBS) tools to expand her professional impact.
How professionals will make a positive impact at work largely depends on their work environments. They can aim to work for an organization that allows them to push boundaries and make a difference. As a flower can only grow in the light, people can only realize life’s potential in a supportive and pioneering environment.
Consider these tips and tricks for finding environments that nourish impact.
Work becomes more meaningful to professionals when it aligns with their strengths and interests. They should identify what energizes them and assess their skills and interests. Their interests include things they enjoy, that spark their curiosity and that align with their values. Work should be challenging, rewarding and fulfilling, which looks different for everyone.
Candidates can identify their strengths and interests through personality tests, skills assessments and personal introspection. They can also ask people who know them well for feedback. Once they have identified the strengths and interests that could lead to a meaningful career, they can use them to guide their job search. Understanding the values that matter to them helps identify a company culture that aligns with their needs.
Professionals should consider work that drives innovation and improves lives so that they can make an impact in the workplace and beyond. Considering the kind of impact they would like to make allows them to narrow their choices and focus on organizations that share their passions. Meaningful work should align with a candidate’s strengths and interests so that they can make a maximum positive impact on the world.
Focusing on the most in-demand skills increases job seekers’ chances of finding a job with an innovative and impactful organization. Alongside the relevant qualifications, the following skills can help them stand out among other applicants and continue making an impact once hired:
Networking with people who share their values and passions can help professionals discover new career opportunities. It may also help them find role models and mentors with whom they can collaborate, improve and get a foot in the door at the right organization. Candidates can attend events and conferences and join online forums to connect with like-minded people.
When networking, professionals should be authentic, polite and respectful. They should consider every relationship an opportunity to build trust and be clear about their goals. Networking involves an ongoing process of maintaining existing relationships and creating new ones. As professionals meet new people, they should keep in touch with them and offer value and support wherever possible.
Working in diverse teams will benefit professionals who want to make an impact. Inclusive workplaces enable professional growth, add new perspectives and fertilize the ground for ongoing innovation. Candidates should ask prospective employers about their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices and demonstrate their preference for working with inclusive and pioneering teams.
Recruiters have vast experience connecting job applicants with suitable positions where they can realize their career goals and drive innovation. Many professionals get impactful jobs when working with recruiters specializing in their industry. The following simple tips can help candidates get the most from their journey with recruiters:
Professionals should be discerning in their job searches. They can look for jobs that suit their strengths and allow them to impact the world and grow positively. Choosing positions that meet these criteria helps professionals advance their careers, showcase their skills and demonstrate their fit at their organization of choice. Some actions they can take to make their applications stand out include:
Your ability to make an impact in your career starts with your environment. Working for an organization that genuinely cares about you and your career can be extremely motivating. At Danaher, you’ll work alongside industry pioneers who feel invested in your career growth. Our culture of continuous improvement will help you innovate at the speed of life. Together, we will make a real difference in the world.
At Danaher, we believe that you can be yourself at work and that there’s no limit to the impact you create. As a global leader in biotechnology, diagnostics and life sciences, we believe in combining unique perspectives to push the boundaries of possibility. We give you the tools to realize life’s potential. Browse our job openings and make a global impact today!