10 Great Work Habits
Success in the workplace is not guaranteed by being a recognized expert in the profession, demonstrating core competencies and mastering complex skill sets. No matter how gifted and knowledgeable an employee is, he risks failure if he is unable to make the most productive use of his work hours.
Disorganization, lack of focus and an inability to prioritize inevitably lead to stress and burnout. When an employee does not approach job duties in the proper frame of mind or is unable to tackle tasks with efficiency and proficiency, performance suffers, and, inevitably, his career falters.
A commitment to positive workplace behaviors leads to increased effectiveness on the job and added value to the organization. Whether the employee is beginning a new position or simply wants to excel in an existing role, faithful adherence to these 10 common-sense work habits will build self-confidence and improve his prospects for success:
1. Declare war on clutter. Employees lose valuable time each day rummaging through papers for information they should have at their fingertips. Establishing and maintaining a functional filing system requires very little effort and yields lasting rewards. The tendency to place each and every piece of paper, when read, on top of the nearest pile, courts chaos. Know the difference between a “document” and “trash.” Pack rats never prosper in the workplace.
2. Prioritize daily tasks. Many workers get bogged down in “busy work” or succumb to the temptation to complete easy tasks first, even if they are of dubious importance. At the end of each work day, take two minutes to compile a list, in order of importance, of the tasks that should be tackled the next day. Use this list as a tentative plan, but allow room for flexibility to handle crises that demand immediate attention.
3. Be punctual. Nothing says more about an employee’s sense of responsibility that his commitment to showing up for work on time. Allow sufficient time for the daily commute, taking into account adverse weather conditions and the potential for traffic backups. Be aware that for every organization, time is money. Taking extra time for lunch for personal business, arriving late and leaving early are tantamount to robbing the organization of your services.
4. Do not monopolize your co-workers’ time. There are many occasions in the course of the day when you must confer with colleagues about organization business. These encounters can range from a brief phone call or e-mail exchange to an office visit or even a formal meeting. When you must speak to a co-worker, do not be unprepared and do not engage in extraneous personal conversation.
5. Do not let co-workers monopolize your time. You should certainly be courteous in your responses to co-workers’ legitimate inquiries and responsive to their requests for assistance. However, when it develops that they are keeping you from performingn critical tasks, you should be judicious in your expenditure of time and effort.
6. Don’t abuse your break time. Visits to the rest room and an occasional trip to the coffee pot are each employee’s right, but productivity suffers when there are frequent absences from your work station. Schedule breaks at appropriate intervals, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Whenever possible, take these breaks after you have completed specific tasks. That way, you can return to work refreshed and ready to turn to a new project, rather than re-focus on an incomplete job.
7. Demonstrate proper phone etiquette. Respond with a professional greeting, such as, “Sales department. This is John. How can I help you?” Do your best to be of assistance. If you can’t help, direct the caller to a colleague who can. Respond promptly to all phone messages.
8. Don’t let e-mail rule your life. Set aside periods of time through the day, perhaps twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, to review and respond to new e-mail messages. It is a waste of time to read each e-mail as soon as it is delivered. Know the difference between routine and urgent electronic communications and prioritize your responses accordingly.
9. Be considerate of colleagues. Don’t distract them with loud music, personal phone calls or inappropriate language or clothing. If you do anything to make the work environment unpleasant to others, you are a liability to the organization.
10. Show your “professional face.” Conduct yourselves at all times as though your boss was nearby watching you. You will find that professionalism becomes a habit.
Good work habits don’t come naturally, they must be developed. Mastering strong work habits is indispensable to establishing a reputation as a valued contributor to the organization.
