Insuring your Job Prospects Alive by Keeping your Competitive Edge
Staying ahead in the workplaceis a necessity in today's economy where few people can find jobs, much less hold on to them. A generation ago few employees needed to bother with keeping their job skills sharp. A nine to five job was enough to put bread on the table and sustain a happy and prosperous home life. Those times have since vanished. If an employee today doesn't keep up with the many changes in the corporate climate, he'll be faced up against a more aggressive employee looking to replace him.
Maintaining a competitive edge is just another tool in the worker's arsenal. The highly competitive environment means that survival must include more than just doing your job. While you don't need to push your weight around to get results, you can implement some tips to help keep your job and still prosper.
Be a Constant Learner
Many people have become accustomed to the idea that learning ends once they leave university. Exactly the opposite is true. Book learning is fine, but it cannot replace the experience learned on the job. Once you have been employed or have been employed for a number of years, learning is more important than ever. You need to keep abreast of the many changes that occur throughout your employment years. A long employment with a single company is next to impossible, so you need to learn the ins and outs of every job you do throughout your lifetime.
Be a Team Player
No one is capable of doing a single job by himself. Several heads are required to solve problems and many corporations employ teams focused on one or two specific goals. Team players are those who work toward the big picture and are willing to set aside animosities so everyone can benefit from their efforts. The person who can't get along with his fellow workers is the one who gets laid off first.
Play an Active Role
No employee can do the best job hidden behind the walls of his cubicle. An active part means working in a partnership, focused on working toward company goals. Keeping a competitive edge means taking the initiative, often doing those jobs everyone else hates. This doesn't mean mopping floors and cleaning urinals. It means arriving early to work and leaving later. The employee who advances through the company ranks is the one who uses his creativity, solves problems and stays in touch with employees and staff members.
Communicate
It's often lacking from the corporate offices to the suburban home. The employee who aspires to maintain his competitive edge is the one who shares his ideas with others. He is the one who actively listens to those around him. Communication has more to do with listening than talking. Few employees realize that to advance to a higher pay level, they need to be better listeners than talkers. Their minds need to be open to ideas and suggestions without passing judgment.
Praise and Appreciation
Few employees know how valuable praise can be. Many an employee feels that to advance, they need to put someone down with slurs and accusations. But the employee who gives credit where it is due is likely to have a number of employees supporting him on his climb up the corporate ladder. Quality Principles
In this world it's too easy to become selfish. The employee who maintains the competitive edge is not out to get whatever he can at someone's expense. He will not compromise the ethics that created the foundation of every great nation, every prosperous company and every strong family unit. Unfortunately, this means that millions of employees lose their compassionate nature and any hope for a future of success.
