Common
sense will tell you that qualities like motivation, dedication, integrity,
good judgment, and a sense of responsibility to the people you work
with are crucial to individuals seeking career success. But, just
having these qualities is not enough to succeed-you must be able to
demonstrate these qualities each day if you want to succeed on the
job. This article describes a number of things you can start doing
today to be more successful in your workplace.
Although recent
trends like downsizing might make you think otherwise, organizations
still put a high premium on company loyalty.
You can demonstrate company loyalty in a number of ways. One of the
easiest, yet most important, ways is to support your company's policies.
There are also several subtler things that can demonstrate your loyalty
and pride, like:
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Being
punctual and putting in a full day's work.
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Being
willing, when the need arises, to work extra hours.
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Being
respectful and courteous to all the people you work with,
from the janitor to the head of the
company.
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By being nice to people, and showing your loyalty in tangible ways,
you are benefiting yourself. It will be that much easier for you to
develop the rapport and gain the support you need to get ahead in
your organization-so don't underestimate their importance. In fact,
some companies have even promoted people simply because they possessed
these qualities, not because they had superior skills or abilities!
One of the toughest parts about being a team player in any job is
getting along with a difficult boss. Remember, however, part of your
job responsibility is to make your supervisors life easier-by not
only doing your job, but by getting along with them and others.
Whatever you can do to make your boss's life easier and to make your
boss look better will generally enhance your own career progress
| See
the Totality of Your Job |
Many employees suffer from "tunnel vision,"
they do not see the whole picture from the client's point of view.
To achieve the correct perspective, broaden your knowledge in any
way you can-through seminars, training classes, college courses, and
by reading business magazines, newspapers, and books.
If you work directly with external clients, learn as much as you can
about their company, its products and services, and the people who
run it. And remember, everything you do affects the service and solutions
your company provides-whether or not you have direct contact with
clients.
Organizations
are, by their very nature, "political" to some degree-in the sense
that certain people in the company hold power disproportionate to
their position.
In some cases, you may find that getting ahead in your company will
be tied to your ability to emulate the style of your superiors. While
it is not recommended you try to become a clone of key managers, to
say that you do not have to concern yourself with company politics
would be naïve.
One of the best, if not the easiest, ways of gaining recognition from
key superiors is to take on those jobs that no one else wants to do-providing
you're doing them for the right person and it's the right kind of
job. Taking on a boring assignment involving little effort is likely
to be unappreciated. But taking charge of a highly visible effort,
such as the corporate charity fundraising in your company, could gain
you important recognition.
At all costs,
protect your integrity by refusing to compromise your values and ethics.
To illustrate the importance of this principle, consider this example:
A few months after a man found a position as a chief financial officer
with a medium-sized public company, the chairman of the board called
him in and told him how he wanted the financial statements to look
in the next quarterly report. The company, as it turned out, was considering
a merger, and the chairman wanted the financial statements to make
the company's financial position look stronger than it really was.
The CFO balked and the chairman gave him an ultimatum: follow orders
or leave.
The CFO was obviously in a difficult position. He liked his job and
made good money. But he refused to compromise his integrity, so he
left. The merger did take place, but none of the key executives in
the organization were retained by the acquiring company. And, once
the financial discrepancies became evident, there were all sorts of
investigations. The CFO, in the meantime, did well for himself. He
found a job at a higher salary with another company. So, by protecting
his integrity, he protected his career.
| Learn
How to Manage Your Time |
Time is in short
supply for most employees. So, the better you manage your time, the
more successful you'll be in your career. While there is no right
way to manage your time, there are several basic techniques you should
find helpful.
Begin each workday with a written agenda of your tasks ranked according
to priority. Not all tasks will be equally appealing, but try to resist
the temptation of postponing the unpleasant ones. Tackle your high
priority items first.
When planning your day, allot enough time to handle each item on your
agenda. If it looks as though there is too much work for you to handle,
don't be afraid to admit you can't do it all. Successful people, as
a rule, are not embarrassed to speak up and ask for help if they are
truly overloaded. They know that asking for help is not a sign of
weakness.
Here are some additional steps you can follow to help you manage your
time more effectively:
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Regularly
review priorities. For example, rank priority by giving each
task a number from one (highest) to
four (lowest), and review the list several times daily to
make any adjustments which may have
become necessary during the course of the day.
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As much
as possible, control the phone. Let voice mail pick up if
you are working on a task that requires
sustained concentration.
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Keep
your work area organized. Get into the habit of straightening
your desk two or three times a day.
You'll be amazed how much time you'll save by not having to
search through piles of papers and
documents!
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Stress is inherent
in most occupations. As a result of downsizing, many companies are
asking employees to handle larger workloads. An overall decline in
employer's loyalty causes many employees concern about the stability
of their jobs. Nearly everything employees do has some sort of deadline
associated with it. Not surprisingly, these and other factors contribute
to overwhelming amounts of stress, which can lead to job burnout.
When work is the first thing you think about when you get up and the
last thing you think about when you go to sleep, you may be in trouble.
Burnout is not a weakness. On the contrary, employees who are most
susceptible to it are highly energetic and have a great capacity for
work. What do you do about it? Here are some suggestions from the
experts:
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Recognize
that burnout is a problem and that if you do not attend to
it, it could seriously affect your
health.
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If the
problem is serious, take a long vacation as soon as you are
able.
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Regardless
of how busy you are, do not schedule any work for the weekend,
and do what you can to limit the work
you do at night.
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Get
away from the scene of the stress. If possible, go out for
lunch.
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Narrow
the focus of your tasks. Clear your desk of everything except
the project you're working on.
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Restructure
your work responsibilities, if you can. If you need help,
do not be embarrassed to ask for it.
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Take
frequent breaks to ease tension-even if it's a five minute
walk.
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If
you have an office door, close it as frequently as possible.
It's amazing what the change in environment
can do to relax you.
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Whatever your
specialty, you should keep your own personnel file. The file should
contain a running record of every major assignment, complete with
details on clients with whom you've worked, descriptions of tasks
completed and results. This file should highlight your accomplishments.
Needless to say, the file should never include confidential or sensitive
information.
You'll benefit from this file in several ways. To start, when the
time comes for a salary review, you will be in a position to present
a strong case on your behalf-based on your accomplishments. Second,
such a file becomes invaluable should you decide to leave the firm.
Your resume will be much easier to put together, and you will have
strong and complete facts to present to potential employers.
Today, doing your
job well is not enough to assure you of rapid progress in your company.
Equally important is making sure your superiors perceive you as a
valuable contributor to the company's success. Here is a summary of
things you can do to ensure your career continues to flourish:
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Show
loyalty to the firm.
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See
the totality of your job.
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Understand
and anticipate your boss's needs.
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Take
credit (modestly) for your work.
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Give
co-workers and subordinates the same respect you show your
superiors.
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Gain
recognition by accepting certain assignments nobody else will.
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Manage
your time efficiently.
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Be aware
of, and take steps to counteract, job-related stress.
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Maintain
your own personnel file containing your key accomplishments
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