I run my own business now, but once upon a time I was an employee, and if there’s anything I learnt from all the positions I held, it is that hard work alone does not guarantee success in the workplace. If you’re going to be that employee who your boss would hate to lose, and who younger executives in your industry look up to, then you must take the following to heart:
1. Don’t cheat your employer: Never short-change your employer in any way. Be completely honest and transparent. Using company time to play on Facebook, tweet, or chat with friends is defrauding your employer, and this can come back to bite you in the behind. Take breaks at the right time. Work when you’re supposed to be working. Be financially responsible and take only what belongs to you. Put in your best and deliver as agreed.
2. Invest in yourself: Your growth is your responsibility, whether or not the perks of your job include training programmes. Always make sure you’re upgrading yourself in every way possible, even if only a little at a time. Never be complacent. Make yourself more valuable by reading books relevant to your field, taking courses that will boost your skillset and position you to move up the ladder, and investing in a wardrobe that allows you to dress the part. Get a mentor, attend seminars, workshops and seize networking opportunities as they come. This way, you’re always in a position to add value. You’re always full of solutions and fresh ideas; whether you choose to offer them to your current employer or not is up to you. When you outgrow your present position it will be obvious, and then you can plot your next move from a position of strength.
3. Understand yourself: What are you good at? In what areas do you shine with least effort? How do your strengths and your employer’s needs align? Are you more productive in the mornings or in the evenings? What gets your juices flowing? When you understand yourself, you know how to step up your game in order to achieve the most with the least effort. This helps you to conserve your energy for the things that really matter.
4. Work smart, not hard: Working hard and working well are not the same thing. You judge productivity by results, not by how hard you work or how much time you put in. How can you do the most with the least? You need to find out. You need to know how much work you can get done in a certain time-frame, so you don’t over-promise and under-deliver.
5. Know your worth: When you do good work, you know what your work is worth and you take pride in it. Don’t offer yourself cheaply, or short-change yourself to satisfy an employer who is not discerning of your worth. Stay on top of your game and do your best work always. With integrity, up-to-date skills, self-awareness and the ability to market yourself, you will always be in demand.
6. Go the extra mile: Doing just a little bit more than what you’re paid for can bring HUGE rewards your way. The extra mile is never crowded, so your little extra here and there will always be noticed, and you never know when your harvest will come in. Go the extra mile and do it strategically; know when it’s worth it.
7. Watch your attitude: Are you a team player? Do you work well with others? Are you pleasant and courteous? Are you humble despite your talent and skill? It is not always about how good you are, but how good you are to work with.
There is a lot to learn as you navigate the choppy waters of paid employment, but if you use these 7 keys you’re off to a great start!
About the writerr: Joy Ehonwa is a writer, copy-editor and online proofreader who is passionate about relationships and personal development. She runs Pinpoint Creatives, a copy-editing, ghostwriting and transcription business, and blogs at www.anafricandiva.wordpress.com and www.girlaware.wordpress.com
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This article was first published on 5th October 2014 and updated on June 26th, 2015 at 1:56 pm
jehonwa
Joy Ehonwa is an editor and a writer who is passionate about relationships and personal development. She runs Pinpoint Creatives, a proofreading, editing, transcription and ghostwriting service.
Email: pinpointcreatives [at] yahoo.com
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