How to Deliver Quality at Work
I love this quote by Howard Newton: “People forget how fast you did a job — but they remember how well you did it.” This quote is the cornerstone of what quality work is about. Delivering exceptional work requires attributes such as superior communication and an ability to work hard. While both elements may seem simple, it’s a far cry from being transparent. Let’s consider communication for a moment. Communication is not just about how you speak; it’s also about impression, attitude and cultivating relationships. Let’s elaborate on each:
Making an impression - It’s actually not hard to make a bad impression, which means it’s not too easy to make a good one. Depending on the size of your company, you can easily get lost amidst a sea of employees with good skills set and positive self-esteem. The key to making a noticeable, positive impression has more to do with your ability to listen and observe. Paying attention to the dynamics of your office environment can give an observant employee the advantage needed to make a good impression.
Attitude - Whatever your responsibilities maybe for the company you are employed by, your mindset, and how it’s projected, is an instrumental part of communicating with your employer. How you interact with your employer dictates the quality of work you produce. Deliver a positive mindset by showing enthusiasm when needed, by not comparing your work style with your co-workers and by not being afraid to ask for guidance when needed.
Cultivating relationships - In this particular instance, the relationship that’s crucial for the quality of work you need to produce is the rapport you’ve developed with your co-workers. These relationships can be the building block for delivering your best possible work quality. How do you cultivate these alliances? You do it gradually over time; you allow your co-workers to see the value of forming a relationship with you. In some instances, it requires your reliability, your ability to listen attentively, to be flexible and your commitment to working as part of a team.
The second way to deliver quality work would be through your ability to work hard. There's absolutely no way to provide quality work for your employer if you are not willing to be diligent. In addition, you should consider another option that is often overlooked: working smarter. If you want to improve the quality of your work, master the techniques of working smarter. There are three key:
Efficiency - Working efficiently isn’t about getting all your work done; it's about utilizing the resources available to you to complete a set project. This also relates to cultivating relationships as mentioned above. Being efficient is extremely variable, knowing how to bring all your influences and skills together to meet your goals, requires thought and an ability to make it happen. Remember this: efficiency denotes productivity, and a productive employee produces quality results.
Time management - When you first begin a project, you feel as if every aspect of the project is important. Most employees are usually overwhelmed before the project even begins. The best way to feel less affected — and more effective — is to prioritize your work. This one step can make a very big difference in the use of your time, and the scope of any project you are attempting to complete.
Organization - An article appeared on About.com regarding getting organized at work, citing a survey done by a national staffing service. According to OfficeTeam, “More than eight in 10 respondents (83 percent) said the appearance of an employee’s workspace at least somewhat affects their perception of that person’s professionalism.” The reality is that perception is everything; you could be the most unorganized person, yet you get the job done. However, remember that we are talking about delivering quality work, and if you are unorganized, it will be hard to convince your employer that the work you produced was done efficiently and by using all possible resources. Bottom line, they will wonder if you may have missed something.
There's a fine line between delivering quality at work and just getting the job done. If you want to deliver quality, develop a strategy to work wisely, thoroughly, accurately and realistically. Delivering quality work doesn’t have to be tiring and all-consuming — not if you plan and execute accordingly.
