Are you tired of being just one of the employees in the company? Do you want to stand out from the crowd and make your boss notice your existence? Check out these 10 effective work habits that you should learn so you will be valued and loved by your boss, and soon be on his A-list!
1. Learn to communicate
First of all, listen carefully and then speak-up. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you are not sure of something especially if it’s important. Learn to communicate effectively with your boss and colleagues, phrase your words properly and use a polite tone. However, don’t overdo it. Unless your boss likes the constant stream of communication, it’s best to consolidate your questions beforehand.
2. Be accountable
Accountability is essential at work. You have to hold yourself accountable for your own actions and behavior. For example, be punctual for meetings and not wasting other people’s time. Take responsibility for your own work and don’t expect others to cover for you. If you know that you’re going to be away for a while, do a proper handover to your colleague who’ll be covering you instead of sitting on it and not say anything. Show your boss that you take your job seriously and ensure the workflow isn’t interrupted.
Failure is an opportunity to grow.
3. Be able to adapt
Bosses love how their employees can adapt and maintain flexibility in different work arrangements. For example, being willing to take on some different or ad-hoc duties. It’s also important to be adaptable to the company culture and get along with others in the office. Collaboration at work is crucial and it’s going to be more difficult if you don’t have a good relationship with your colleagues.
4. Be more self-aware
Bosses love it if an employee can do their work effectively with minimum supervision. Self-aware and motivated employees know their responsibilities and will take the initiative to perform at work. How to be more self-aware? Always put yourself in your boss’s shoes, would you be okay if your employees do something like that? If the answer is no, then you should know what to avoid.
5. Know your boss
After working with your boss for a while, you should be able to tell the things your boss hates and loves. Take note of any key information you observed even if it’s just an opinion on an article he read or the food he ate. If your boss has made it clear that he hates being interrupted first thing in the morning, don’t go to his office to update him but instead give him enough time to be ready for the day.
6. Be confident
Show your confidence when presenting your ideas or when having a discussion with your colleagues. It’s not something that you should only do when the boss is around, but actually believe in your own abilities. A confident employee strives to meet their highest potential and know that they have the capacity to do achieve goals.
7. Have a strong work ethic
People with a strong work ethic are more reliable and productive. Understand and possess the willingness to work hard but at the same time, work smart. It means working in the most efficient way to finish your work and finding ways to save time and energy for repetitive tasks. Other than caring about your job, having a positive attitude towards work is also very important.
8. Don’t give up easily
It’s important to be patient and tackle the issues arise at work calmly. Not every project or task will go smoothly, but that doesn’t mean you should give up every time when there is a hiccup. Show your boss that you have a positive attitude and willing to solve the problem patiently. It’s okay to fail sometimes, treat it as an opportunity to grow!
9. Be appreciative
Acknowledge what the boss says. They love employees who pay attention to their words. Always let your boss know that you heard their kind suggestions about your work and other ways to improve it. When your boss criticizes your work, don’t be defensive or simply ignore and dismiss it, acknowledge and appreciate it instead. But, if you don’t think that it’s going to work, communicate and discuss further with him or her professionally.
10. Be loyal
Most bosses cherish the loyalty from their employees. Bosses love it when they can trust you with your job and are committed to the company’s success. Loyal employees often put the company’s interest ahead of their own.
Find these tips useful? We have more career advice, workplace tips, and job search tips on our blog. Don’t forget to check them out!
Photo by Ross Findon on Unsplash
