Tuesday, January 22, 2013

6 Good work habits for every employee


Small steps add up to big results. Charter your success story by imbibing small but effective work habits into your daily work day. Here’s a list for the same.

To be successful in one’s career does not necessarily mean working on the overdrive or constantly fret over the next milestone to achieve. Rather, it is a cumulative of everyday work habits that ensure quality and productivity in one’s work that eventually adds up to that big promotion, salary hike, recognition etc.

Procrastination cripples not just work but also creates panic situations as deadlines loom nearby. Every task demands completion – yes, some require priority and others can be scheduled for a later time. However, putting off work due to reasons like inertia towards new challenges, fear of failing, lack of proper planning etc are actions that only pull one back and hinder progress. Be the leader for your work and consequently, your career chart.

Responsibility – It is important to take ownership for one’s work, whether it is an idea for a project, a delegated responsibility, or even a task gone wrong. What falls in your court is your play – so stand up and be a responsible boss, senior, co-worker, or subordinate. Being responsible creates for a healthy work environment and team spirit.

Proactive – To be able to connect with your work and find a purpose in what you do, it is essential to bring to it both your expertise and your individuality. If there is something you would like done differently, then be the change you wish to see – be it the work itself or the approach to it. It is important to showcase the personal brand and commitment that our resume promises at the time of job application.

Team player – You may be a hard worker, a smart worker, a result-oriented driven employee, etc but the fact remains that your work contribution is only one part of the overall team’s work. Everyone pitches in with their efforts that make a project and organisation function. Mutual respect, openness towards understanding alternative points of views, and working as a collective unit are crucial for smooth sailing of a team. Be a sport!

Active learner – It is easy to fall prey to complacency and a lackadaisical attitude towards work that has become routine for quite a while now. However, if allowed to continued so, days and weeks can give way to months of monotony, job dissatisfaction and career stagnation. Stay updated with the latest trends and news in your domain, involve yourself in projects that offer something new to learn, enrol for workshops or courses that could take you to the next level (either in the current job or enhance your resume for future job hunts), and all together make you a valuable asset to any organisation you work with.

Organised and driven – Being organised in your work helps keep track of work progress and allows you to be on top of your to-do lists and planning at all times. It also means that you walk into meetings prepared with what you have to say and deliver and are in control of the work that falls under you. All in all, a committed approach to one’s work helps inch towards one’s career goals with panache and not strife.


No comments: