When people ask me what it takes to get recognised at work and progress in their careers, I generally suggest two directions they can pursue.

Option one: Demonstrate deep expertise in an area that is strategically important to the business.

Option two: Demonstrate the ability to solve meaningful problems. The broader the problem and the higher the ambiguity, the more valuable you are if you can drive it to a positive outcome. This is especially relevant in dynamic environments where changing conditions make people with adaptable skills who can work across a variety of contexts valuable.

Career maps and expectation matrices are very useful, but sometimes people can get lost in the details. I like these rules of thumb as a way to help people keep their eyes on the prize.