Five Simple Habits that Make You More Successful at Work

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One of the best ways to reach financial success and freedom is to work your way to the top of your career and really make the big bucks; among other things, of course. We would be remiss if we did not mention that success and financial freedom are not found by making more money in addition to eliminating debt, learning to live frugally and saving in a big way. We can help you save all kinds of money with our tips and our tricks, but we cannot forget the simplest way to have more money, and that’s to make more money.

Of course, you will never make it to the top if you are not a team player. It doesn’t matter who you work for, what you do or who you are; not being a team player and not being a good employee or colleague is not going to get you very far. It might for a minute, but the truth about your personality and work ethic will always catch up to you sooner rather than later. That’s why we have to address one of the simplest ways to work your way to the top; by being a good person.

For the past year, I’ve listened to someone I’ve known my whole life complain endlessly about her career. She’s been with the same employer for more than two decades, and it’s gotten so bad over the past year that I cringe when she wants to get together, calls or texts because she hates her new boss so much so that all she does is complain. She doesn’t ask about me or my job, my kids, my family or want to talk about anything other than how her new boss made her mad today or how she is not going to do things this person’s way because she’s been doing it this way for this long and it’s worked just fine.

I’m telling you; I cringe. It’s a conversation I have come to despise. It is the worst. It is like nails on a chalkboard, but you can’t tell her she’s wrong or she just tells you that she’s not and that you just don’t understand that everyone is always someone else’s fault and nothing is her fault – ever. In my mind, all I can do is sigh. She doesn’t see it, and she never will. Hopefully, you might see it and I can tell you how you can avoid being the worst kind of employee constantly passed up for the good stuff. If you want to make a good impression and solidify a good reputation for yourself at work, you have to adopt these habits.

Use Basic Manners

I shouldn’t even have to write this down, but it appears that some people simply don’t get it. Say please and thank you, smile when you speak to people, don’t use inappropriate language, and be polite. Show up on time, don’t sneak out early and be nice. See how easy it is?

No Gossip

I know how much fun it can be to stand around and gossip about this person or that one at work, but don’t do it. Trust no one, and don’t stoop to anyone else’s level. The last thing you want to do is create a reputation for yourself as the office gossip. No one likes that person.

Own Your Mistakes

My husband and I were recently out to dinner with two other couples when they received their meals and we did not. Our waitress never once came back to the table to ask if everyone received their correct meals, if we needed anything, if we needed new drinks, or if our food was cooked correctly. By the time our friends were done eating, we’d finally been able to track her down and explain to her that we never received our meals. All she had to do to make us happy was say, “I am so sorry, let me handle this,” and then actually handle it.

What she did was snap at us, “Well it’s not my fault you didn’t get your food. It’s the kitchen’s fault,” and then she proceeded to stomp off, come back with two plates of food that wasn’t ours and then she had the nerve to argue with us when we told her that these were not the meals we ordered. It was a disaster – and we will never go back if we are in her section. All she had to do was take responsibility and make it right.

Do that at work, and you’ll earn a pretty good reputation as a great person. Anyone who can own up to making a mistake, learn from it, fix it and move on is pretty amazing.

Proofread

First and foremost, the worst thing you can do at work is send out an email using text lingo, filled with typos and misspellings and filled with personal information. Treat each and every email like the final copy of your thesis that will mean a better life or nothing at all. It’s a simple tactic that will work for a lifetime.

Be Respectful

If you tell someone you will do something, do it. If you schedule a meeting with someone, don’t make them sit in the waiting room for an hour (unless they are an hour early). If you have to be at a meeting, be on time. If you tell someone you’ll have something done by a certain date, have it done or let them know why it’s not done or cannot be done. It’s so easy to be respectful. It costs nothing but gains you everything.

Photo by Getty Images

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