How to be successful at work

The Reader’s Digest rules from the previous post are timeless gold dust for success in the workplace. Let’s break some of them down using my own experience:

Long hours don’t mean anything; results count, not effort.

So true in my experience. Managers couldn’t care much about how long it takes to get a task done (assuming it’s not time critical) - as long as gets done, and gets done well. What they do care about is the welfare of the employees and how much time they are spending working.

Time management at work is something I’ve always struggled with, likely a combination of my personality (hardworking and perfectionist) and the intense nature of the work I've been involved with.

Treat everyone who works in the organisation with respect and dignity, whether it be the cleaner or the managing director. Don’t ever be patronising.

Important and often overlooked. Not saying I’m perfect, but I’ve always tried to show respect to other colleagues and people who work for my employer (even down to the cleaners). This requires treating others as fellow human beings, rather than regarding them by their job title. Over time, people will notice and treat you with the same respect you show them. This becomes the foundation of solid relationships and can open up new doors for career development in the future.

The person who spends all of his or her time at work is not hard-working; he or she is boring.

Everybody should have a life outside of work, even the managing director. Showing some extra effort above your manager (like consistently arriving at work before them) is a good step, but when your work becomes your whole life, you become boring to talk and listen to; you end up proving nothing other than your own lack of interests, and may even push yourself away from career development if managers look at this unfavourably.

Spending all your time at work is (obviously) very bad for your health. This sounds plain but if you’re hard working and passionate about what you do, it’s easy to fall into this trap. I’ve fallen into it on occasion - both your mental and physical health will suffer seriously.

Never in your life say, “it’s not my job”.

Managers are looking for flexible employees who can mould their work routine to the requirements of the company. This may not always be in the job description, but in my experience, being resourceful and helping out when you can will earn you respect and positive results in the long-term.

Know when you do your best - morning, night, under pressure, relaxed; schedule and prioritise your work accordingly.

This is a profound statement which is not followed by enough people, and it has applications throughout life, not just in the workplace. You will be so much more productive if you clear your diary to work during the time which is best for you. You can then allocate the rest of the day for things of less importance.

At this point, you start to understand that having a successful career is not about working hard, it’s about working smart.

Understand the skills and abilities that set you apart. Use them whenever you have an opportunity.

Spend some time to think about what your skill set is and consider how best you can apply this at work. Use these skills whenever you have the chance - even if it occasionally means doing tasks which are not in your job description. This will help you get the job you really want - one which uses your skillset properly.

Always choose to do what you'll remember ten years from now.

Choose a career which you are interested and passionate about. The passion will motivate you and drive you to exceptional performance. And because you enjoy what you do, you'll be more likely to go above and beyond to be a great employee (like covering for other people when sick or spending a little time outside of work to revise your academic understanding of the subject).

In my own experience, learning to negotiate is a skill of fundamental importance. Useful within the workplace when dealing with colleagues or clients, but a critical skill when it comes to appraisals and discussions with your manager. The employees are the most important part of a business and (almost) all managers will understand this. If they recognise a good employee, they’ll do their best to keep them. Most employees never find this out because they don’t ask. Find the courage to negotiate.

Self development is also key. (It’s one of the Seven Habits). Make sure to spend a bit of time to constantly renew your understanding of the job and any knowledge requirements (from university/college/school). It doesn’t matter when you do this - in or out of work, but it will help you keep on top of your job and will be recognised.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, be true to your job and yourself. Strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Work hard and rest well.