How to Be a Better Employee
Many people find it difficult to stay engaged at their job. When first hired, there is a desire to impress your boss and coworkers who may not be aware of your extensive skill set. After working for a company for a little while, it’s easy to become comfortable and start to slack a bit in our duties. In this ever-evolving business world, it is important to establish your abilities. However, that is not enough. You also need to continually demonstrate how valuable you are to your company. This will help you open doors and opportunities for enhancing your career. No matter what position you find yourself in, it is always smart to be a good worker and helpful employee.
ORGANIZE AND STRUCTURE YOUR TO DO LIST
One of the best ways to stay in the good graces of a management team is to be well organized and diligent with your work. While it seems simple enough, staying on top of your responsibilities can become cumbersome. Simple things like keeping tabs on your company’s cyber security policies and best practices can slip through the cracks either due to volume or just a lack of prioritizing. Thus, it is best to be organized and create lists or daily reminders that show each task and their due date. If you find yourself overwhelmed with work, it is important to be a responsible worker and inform your supervisor that you need assistance. He or she will appreciate the honesty and see your commitment to the company.
ENGAGE AND ASK FOR FEEDBACK
If the opportunity arises, asking assistance from a coworker that is less busy or has more knowledge of the subject you are working on can make you a better employee. Your engagement with other employees will also show your manager that you are a willing participant within the team and value your coworker’s skill sets. Also, you are illustrating your support for your coworkers, and setting an example for others around you. One of the best ways to exemplify your commitment to a project is to ask for feedback. If you have an idea to make a function run more efficiently, or possibly know of a better way to process data for a presentation, speak up. Have a quick talk with your boss about your ideas and see if there is a way to apply them to the task your are currently working on. Even if the change is not applicable to your current project, there may be a place for it in another aspect of the company and your courage to bring this idea forward will not go unnoticed.
PUT IN THE EXTRA TIME
The simplest way to show a manager how committed you are as an employee is to put in extra time. If there is a project at hand that needs some additional attention, be flexible with your schedule where you can. Come in early, stay late or take work home, but only if you truly have the ability to commit to the project during these times. If you can’t, let your manager know you would like to, and see if there is another way you can help meet the deadline. In addition, coming into work a few minutes earlier than expected and staying a few minutes late regularly shows how committed you are to completing your tasks and that you are making your commitment to the company a priority in your life.
KNOWLEDGE IS KEY
While a college education and previous experience carry heavy weight in most of today’s business positions, the learning process should not end there. With every new company, there is a new way of conducting business and new challenges to learn from. With each position you hold, there are new procedures, job responsibilities, and/or systems to educate yourself on. You are most likely going to be interacting with new people or interacting with the same people on a new level. Be sure to keep an open mind and listen to what each person has to offer. Soak up all the knowledge and experience you can. If you don’t need it right now, file it away for use at a later date. You never know when a small piece of knowledge can make a large impact on a task or project.
FILL IN ALL THE GAPS
It is important to have a good balance in your work life, and to take breaks to replenish yourself and keep from getting burned out. However, it is important that this rejuvenation does not lead to laziness. If you have some down time, and are not feeling as though you need the break, fill it in somehow. Perhaps there is a coworker who is stressed out or behind on his or her work that could use a hand. Or maybe a client that could use a few extra minutes of your time to overcome a challenge they are having. If you are unable to fill the gaps of down time on your own, do not be afraid to inform your supervisor or manager. The initiative you take will exemplify your willingness to help the team and learn a new skill. And this initiative will stick out in your superior’s mind when it comes time for a review, raise or promotion.
CONCLUSION
It is always best to put in 110% in any aspect of your life, and this applies towards your work as well. Helping out a coworker, engaging with a client or presenting an idea to your boss are signs that your are a responsible employee that is working to your fullest potential. Furthermore, you are creating a culture around you that is open minded, flexible and exudes positivity. All of these factors contribute to a more productive work environment and will leave a lasting impression on your coworkers as well as your management team.
