How to Improve Your Work Ethic
In every company, there are a few employees who stand out. They are the ones who always finish first, get recognised for their accomplishments and eventually make their way up the company ladder. Invariably, they know how to play the office politics game. But there are other qualities that world-class performers have in common. With an improved work ethic you can be one of them.
The first thing is to consider what your employer is looking for in who they hire – beyond the ability to carry out industry-specific tasks. Employers value employees who understand and possess a willingness to work hard. In addition to working hard, it is also important to work smart. This means learning the most resourceful and well-organised way to complete tasks and finding ways to save time while completing daily assignments. It is also important to care about the company you work for and your role within it and finish all projects while maintaining a positive attitude. Doing more than is expected is a great way to show management that you utilise good time management skills and do not waste valuable company time attending to personal issues not related to the job. Downsizing in today’s job market is quite common, so it is important to recognise the personal values and attributes employers want to improve your chances of job security should a redundancy occur. In short, make yourself indispensable.
Good time management starts with developing the habit of being on time or early for your job. Getting to the office of schedule allows you to prepare your day in relative peace and mentally prepare for the day ahead. If you are working from home, be punctual with your start time – it is too easy to transition from breakfast to work at ‘around’ 9am.
Be focussed on solving problems. Problem-solving is the cornerstone of almost all businesses. Average employees tend to spend more time jockeying for a position to gain favour from their superiors than they do solving problems. Great ones are not interested in management kudos; they are interested in results. The very best managers and employees solve problems quickly and move on to solving bigger, more complex problems, whether individually or as part of a team. Be that person.
Therefore, you need to embrace responsibility. Recognise that no one is coming to rescue you. No one will force you into the flow of action. You must do this for yourself. The lazy avoidance of responsibility is not a habit you want to foster. You do not want to stagnate in your role. You want growth, and this requires action, movement, and change. This requires you to make some decisions and get going. Do not put this burden of action on anyone else. It rests squarely on your shoulders, if for no other reason than because you are the one who ultimately has to shoulder the results.
Stay positive at all times – even when you are not ‘feeling’ it. Employers want employees who take the initiative and have the motivation to get the job done in a reasonable period of time. A positive attitude gets the work done and motivates others to do the same without dwelling on the challenges that inevitably come up in any job. The enthusiastic employee creates an environment of goodwill and provides a positive role model for others. Supervisors and co-workers most value a positive attitude, making the job more pleasant and fun to go to each day.
Be honest. It hardly needs saying, but this is a vital component to maintain your work ethic. Employers value employees who maintain a sense of honesty and integrity above all else. Good relationships are built on trust. When working for an employer, they want to know that they can trust what you say and do. Successful businesses work to gain customers’ trust and maintain the attitude that “the customer is always right”. It is the responsibility of each person to use their sense of moral and ethical behaviour when working with and serving others within the scope of their job.
Wielding a strong work ethic is ultimately a matter of becoming an action-oriented person. Steer your self-development path in this direction. Decide that you will grow into a person with a strong, powerful work ethic. The doing part will flow more easily if you can embrace the being part. Do you believe you can allow yourself to become a hard worker? When someone asks if you have a strong work ethic, can you see yourself saying “Yes” without hesitation? If not, work on these tips and then ask yourself again.
