It’s true what they say – Good help is hard to find. There are an awful lot of employees these days who seem to think making an average effort at work is ‘good enough’. These workers are not likely to go much of anywhere career-wise. People who bring their ‘A-game’ to the office everyday are chosen first to move up the ladder, get to work preferred shifts more often and almost always make more money than those who put forth a marginal effort when it comes to their careers. There’s a secret you need to know if you want to be seen as an exceptional worker in a sea of mediocracy.
Being a top-notch employee is a lot like being a business owner except with a much lower risk factor. You listen to what your board of directors (managers) wants to get out of you and then come up with a way to accomplish those requests. It’s not easy, but if you can figure out how to do this you are sure to get ahead at work…and in life. Here are some habits you’ll need to help you on your way to success:
Behave like a professional – There’s a big difference between a person who is fun to work with and someone who is always goofing off. Being fun means having good personality, a quick smile and maybe telling a clean joke or two. Goofing off is often wasting time…yours and your co-workers, being off-task or not pulling your weight. People talk – what are they saying about you?
The art of accepting criticism gracefully – This can be tough to take, but if you can put your ego aside you’ll learn a lot about what people expect of you and what areas you need to work on. If someone hurts your feelings or makes you mad, take time to cool down before you react. This requires a tremendous amount of self-control but it gets easier with practice.
Do your job to the best of your ability every day – no whining, bitching or excuses about why you didn’t do something.
Get off your cell phone! – Work is for working. Unless it’s an emergency save your personal calls and texts for your break. Trust me…the world will be just fine without you for a few hours.
Never stop learning – Pick up new skills, take additional training when it’s offered and better yourself at every opportunity. It shows you are intelligent and value life-long learning. It can also make you almost irreplaceable to your employer.
Be responsible – Do a good job, show up on time and don’t habitually call in sick. Frequently if someone has been let go, there have been issues with absenteeism, unprofessional behavior, a bad attitude, production, or customer complaints. With a record like that you won’t have a leg to stand on.
Have a positive attitude – Quit grumbling about what’s wrong and focus on what’s right. A positive attitude goes a long ways with most bosses. If there is a problem you need to bring up make sure you also have suggestions about how to resolve the issue.
Stop procrastinating – it makes your boss crazy. Don’t wait until the last minute then stress out while you’re rushing to get your work done on time. People who think they work better under pressure are only fooling themselves. Get your act together and start to work on projects right away.
Always dress appropriately for your job
Be composed and confidant – good posture and a calm, self-assured attitude will take you more places in life than walking around hunched over and not making eye-contact.
Be appreciative – and say thank you when your boss or co-worker does something nice for you. It’s not only the right thing to do but it will spur them to continue to send good things your way.