How to Develop Good Workplace Habits?

Answer 1

Being a good worker can be the difference in keeping a job, landing a new one, or advancing in your career. Here are some ways to keep yourself on track.

Do Your Job

And while you’re at it, do it well. Don’t make others pick up your slack. Find the right balance of quality and quantity, and in the process, learn what you don’t know and improve what you do. Know when to go above and beyond, and when to avoid being obnoxious.

Be Organized

If you have a desk, keep it neat and orderly. Use an appointment book or digital organizer to make sure assigned work is being completed in a timely fashion, and that you make it to your appointments on time. Don’t make a habit of skipping out of work early. If you work a job with rotating shifts, make sure you don’t make others wait for you so they can leave.

Ask for Feedback

It is always good to know what you are doing right and what can be improved. Don’t let yourself become defensive when you do this. Trust that your manager isn’t “out to get you,” and make sure you know what is expected of you. It may be helpful to have a clear job description or regular tasks from your supervisor if you find yourself struggling with a more open-ended environment.

Be Friendly and Helpful to Others

If someone is asking you to do something that’s not a direct task of yours, either be helpful and do it as long as it doesn’t interfere with your own work, or explain directly and respectfully why you can’t do it. If possible, direct them to where they can find help.

If you’re a in a position of overseeing others, treat them how you want to be treated. Make sure they know what is expected of them, make yourself available for questions or needs, and treat them with respect.

Keep Your Personal Life Personal

Avoid sharing overly intimate information about yourself. If you have social media accounts (Facebookfor example) don’t put anything on it that could make you look bad to your employer, or at least set privacy settings to only let friends see what you post. Don’t do anything on a work computer or account that could jeopardize your job or your privacy.