Although it is not rocket science, success at work does not just happen. It takes the right mindset, proper strategy, and paying attention to the environment that you work in, to make the best out of your job or career. Here are 7 Top Tips.
1. Know Who You Are And What You Bring To Your Company: If you are currently working, it means that you were selected out of possibly hundreds of other applicants for that job. While it is indeed a blessing to be working in an economy where there are millions unemployed, still understand that you met or exceeded the requirements of the job you have. To progress in your career, you should be confident in the skills and the talents you have and know how to apply those skills to the job you have and to the job you want to have next. If you are looking for a job, review your resume and make sure it highlights the contributions you made at previous jobs and the skills you applied to gain those accomplishments. Your talents and their application are what distinguish you; develop them, use them and apply them and you will stand out.
2. Do Not Be Afraid To Negotiate: If you would like a raise or a promotion, come to a negotiation with your homework done. Compile the list of your accomplishments, find out what a competitive salary should be for a person with your job title and history and be ready to discuss these with your supervisor. If you are asking for more flexibility in your working time, show how your productivity will not be impacted (or will be improved) with the new arrangement, what the benefits of this arrangement would be to the company and offer to have periodic reviews of your work to make sure it is not impacted. The prevailing economy should not be a hindrance to your being able to seek wisdom on the approach, doing your homework and changing what you need to change through negotiation. Remember this: If you never ask, the answer will always be: NO.
Balance with Dr. Shola
3. Your Work Ethics Must Be Top Notch: Diligence, efficiency and punctuality are crucial to your work ethic: Diligence is conscientiousness in paying proper attention to a task. Efficiency means skillfulness in avoiding wasted time and effort. Punctuality is the quality or habit of adhering to an appointed time. Contrary to popular belief, diligence is more than just “working hard”. It is working WELL. A diligent person pays attention to the details of a task and does not do slipshod work. Not passing the buck, not leaving your work for other colleagues to do; and going the extra mile to make sure a task is properly done, are just a few examples of diligence in the work place. Being efficient is not “bustling” or being busy. Someone who is efficient does their job with speed and accuracy; accomplishing their given tasks properly and in a timely fashion. Efficiency knows how to prioritize. Punctuality is not coming early once in a while. It is a habit, just as the opposite, tardiness is a habit. Be on time! Get to work on time, complete tasks before deadlines, be at meetings on time. When you are on time people instinctively know that they can trust you. Remember this: if you are not early, you are late.
4. Meet Workplace Challenges With Grace: No workplace is without challenges. Try to keep yourself out of petty squabbles and office gossip. Do not set fires. Resist the temptation to “get your own back” by spreading discord. Do no harm to anyone: physically, mentally, or emotionally. Fight back with appropriate grievance protocols. File incident reports, write people up if need be; involve a lawyer if you have to. While doing this, however, do not do it in anger. Keep a level head. Stay professional. One incident of you yelling, “I’ve had it!” and proceeding with a ranting diatribe on how you just know that the CFO slept with the accountant and that is how she got the corner office will completely ruin your whatever case you may have built up, and may get you fired in disgrace.
5. Know The Culture Of The Place You Work: Do people call each other by their first names? Is the workday flexible? Do people like to hang out after work? Do they dress formally or informally? Get to know the people you are surrounded with. When you know the culture of a place then you are better equipped to be an excellent employee. Additionally, if you wan to bring change to a culture that is counterproductive, you have to study the prevailing culture and in order to know how to implement change at your level.
6. Be Positive: Be known as the ray of sunshine, not the Debbie Downer. You can smile and laugh and get on with people, even if you have a job to do. Care about your co-workers, bosses and subordinates. Be the light. Do not be a whiner or complainer. If you do not like something, change it or get someone to change it. If it doesn’t change and you cannot deal with it, move on. It is a pointless existence, to wake up everyday for 35 years going to a job that you hate! Be grateful for the things that are working and a paycheck. Gratitude will help you stay positive about what is working out.
7. Create The Image That You Want To Project: Some things look good in a workplace environment. For instance, if work starts at 8:30 and you always show up at 8:25, it looks good. When promotion time comes around, you will be remembered. In spite of what we are told, bosses take notice of people who go above and beyond the regular call of duty. There is a balance, however. Do not take on the responsibility of lazy co-workers or persistently do things outside of your job description in the name of going above and beyond. Look the part. Again this depends on the culture of your workplace. Even if your attire is informal, you should not show up to work looking like a war zone. Look good within the means that you have. There is a saying that goes, “The way you are dressed is the way you will be addressed”. When you show up to work well dressed you will be taken seriously. If you have a dress code at work, please stick to it.
There are many more keys to achieving success at work, but the above are foundational, and are applicable to any job, any position, in any part of the world.