27 Good Work Habits for a Successful Career

27 Good Work Habits for a Successful Career27 Good Work Habits for a Successful CareerGood work habits are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in his or her job, whether it is an after school or summer job or one that is a step on the career ladder. They increase your productivity and job satisfactionand help you have better relationships with your babo and coworkers. We asked experienced professionals and parents what good work habits they would tell young adults they must have. Here is their advice 1. ?Take Criticism Well ? Your bosss feedback is valuable. He isnt necessarily criticizing your performance because he dislikes you. He may be trying to help you succeed. 2. ?Dont Gossip Dont contribute to the gossip mill andremain neutral if your coworker tries to pull you into it or talks behind another colleagues back. 3. Be a Problem Solver, Not a Complainer If you have a complaint about something, always have ideas about how to make it better. When you turn negativ ity into positive action, you will sound professional instead of whiny. 4. Be Dependable Always go to work when you are scheduled to be there. Only call out if you are trulysick. 5.Be Willing to Go Into Work If Your Boss Asks If your boss asks you to come into work when you are not scheduled, be willing to make every effort to go. You should also be cheerful about it (or pretend to be). 6. Allow Extra Time for Everything Always build a buffer into commuting time, as well as your timeline for working on a project. 7.Be Prepared to Not Know Everything You certainly wont know everything when you first start out, and you will still have more to learn even as you move up in your career. 8. Put Your Phone Away While at Work Texts and notifications that pop up on your cell phone can be a big distraction while you are working. Check your phone only during breaks. 9. Dress for a Better Job Dressingfor the position you want lets your employer visualize you in that job. 10. ?Ask for Help and Offer It as Well No one, no matter how talented, can do it all alone. If you need assistance, dont be afraid to ask for it. Realize others may require it too but may hesitate to ask, so offer a hand when you can. 11. ?AlwaysDo Your Best When your boss assigns a task, perform it to the best of your ability. 12. ?Be Kind There is nothing to be gained by not being nice to others. When you are kind, it will make others happy, and they will have goodwill toward you. Be especially kind to those who seem the most miserable. They may really need it and it could have a positive effect on them. 13. ?Do mora Than Is Required and Do It With a Smile and a Positive Attitude While doing more than your boss or customers expect may get you recognition, more importantly, it will give you experience and personal satisfaction. 14. Never Say Its Not My Job Be ready to pitch in when you are needed. It may involve doing something that isnt in your job description , but you will demonstrate that you are flexible. 15. Look at Problems as Opportunities, Not Challenges When problems arise, solvingthem gives you the chance to showcase your strengths and sharpen your skills. 16. Keep Personal Problems Out of the Workplace Beware of extensively talking about your personal problems. What you tell your coworkers could influence their perception- and your bosss- about your ability to do your job and it could make you the subject of workplace gossip. 17. Ask Questions If youdont understand how to do something, or how something works, get clarification. You may feel foolish asking what you consider a silly question, but that is much better than making an avoidable mistake. 18. Always Proofread Your Work It may take a little longer to look over your work, but it is muchbetter to catch yourerrors before someone else does. 19. Dont Forget That Work Is Work While it is important to like what you do, you will be terribly disappointed if y ou expect your job to be fun and games all the time. There are things you will need to do that wont be glamorous, but as they say, thats why theyre paying you the big bucks. 20. Make Sure You Understand Company Policies If you dont know what they are, get the facts from someone whose job it is to know them, for example, the human resources department. If you ask a coworker instead, he or she may give you the wrong answer, and you will bear the consequences. 21. Dont Be Afraid to Say I Dont Know If someone asks you a question and you truly dont know the answer, rather than giving out misinformation, be honest. Say you arent sure, but you will find out. Then do it. 22. Be ?Organized It is impossible to do good work if you are disorganized. 23.Prepare for Your Day Arrive at work early and get ready for the day by anticipating what you will have to do while you are there. Do not get flustered by last minute changes. You may have to modify your plans. 24. Never Ask a S ubordinate or Colleague to Do Something You Would Not Do Delegate tasks if you have the authority to do sobut dont expect anyone to do your dirty work for you. 25. Smile, and When Things Are at Their Worst, Smile More Smiling makes you feel better and it makes others feel better. Of course, dont smile when it is inappropriate to do so, for example when something tragic happens. 26. Listen to Understand, Not React When someone is talking, listen carefully. Dont think about how you are going to respond, but instead, try to absorb what the person is telling you. You can ask questions later. 27. ?Stop ?Procrastinating Putting off doing your work, even a project you dread, wont make it go away. You might as well get it over with. 150 Watch Now 8 Habits Holding You Back at Work