PwC's US CEO says the people who get ahead do this when no one is watching

PwC's US CEO says the people who get ahead do this when no one is watching Get better at: Climbing the ladderToday's movePaul Griggs started as an intern at PWC and now runs its US business. He said the same timeless advice that he followed early in his career applies to today's workers.Griggs said employees who want to climb the ranks at work should get curious, even when they're not specifically asked to do something. Get Better at Work Why it worksGriggs said that the Benjamin Franklin quote, "Energy and persistence conquer all things," sums up what it takes to climb the corporate ladder. That means putting in the work when no one is looking.He gave an example of two employees.One of them leaves work on Friday and mentally clocks out to enjoy their weekend. The other one spends 20 minutes researching a problem they didn't know the answer to before carrying on with their plans.That little bit of effort adds up, and, over time, this employee consistently shows up more prepared to conversations. They appear quicker at picking up concepts, they add more value, and, over time, they get more opportunities.Try it todayGriggs said early in his career he worked with a colleague who brought a notebook to every meeting and jotted down anything he didn't understand.You can try the same tactic. Start writing down the concepts and questions you want to learn more about, and get into the habit of spending a little extra time digging into them.The bottom linePeople notice when you put in the extra time to get better at your job. Getting in the habit of being naturally curious will help you stand out — especially in an era when information is so accessible. SourceThis insight is drawn from Business Insider's interview with PwC's US CEO Paul Griggs about how he went from intern to CEO. Read the full story by Ana Altchek here.Has this habit helped you climb the ladder? Tell us what you think of this advice in the comments below. Read next Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Ana writes about workplace trends, careers, and how AI is reshaping software engineering roles. She also regularly interviews C-suite executives about their trajectories and leadership insights.Ana is the host of "Get Better at Work," a series that offers advice about the habits and behaviors that can help workers stand out and build their careers. She also hosts "Work Shift," which breaks down the biggest workplace news of the week. She holds a master’s degree in multimedia journalism from NYU and has been featured on BBC, NPR, and other global media platforms.Have a tip? You can contact her via email at aaltchek@businessinsider.com or through the secure-messaging app Signal at aalt.19. Get Better at Work