Seven Tips to Excel at Any Job

By TERRA Staffing Group

1 Foster a good relationship with your boss.

Get to know your boss. That doesn’t mean you need to be best friends. But, it’s important for you to understand what they value and what their priorities are. If you know those things, you can make sure that your work supports those priorities. Then, if your boss sees that your work is helping them be successful, your value will increase.

Unsure what your boss’s priorities are? Ask yourself:

• How does my boss define success?

• Have they clearly expressed their priorities to me?

• How do they expect my work to support theirs?

• How is their own performance measured?

Keep your boss updated, share wins that they will find valuable and offer insights that will help them be more effective in their job.

2 Be a positive influence.

If you want to make a good impact on your colleagues, start by viewing your success and your team’s success as one and the same. Avoid being centered only on your own needs but think of the needs of the people you work with. That mindset will help you establish win-win relationships and make a positive impression on others.

Try to help team members whenever you can and show your appreciation for their work and accomplishments. A few words to let someone know you value their work can make their day! And if you notice someone having a hard time, a few words of encouragement could turn their day around.

3 Be professional.

Professionalism today is all about making your interactions with your co-workers appropriate, meaningful and valuable. A lot of this has to do with answering the question: What does it feel like to be on the other side of me?

Are you a person who keeps their commitments? Do others look forward to interacting with you? Are you respectful of others and their time? Do you bring value to the team or take away from your work group?

Also, avoid petty gossip. It often doesn’t end well, can damage relationships and it is ultimately a poor reflection on you. Plus, it’s a huge distraction from productive work and an energy drain. Speak to people not about people.

4 Take initiative.

If you want to grow in your role and make the most out of it, the best way is to take initiative! When at work, try not to take for granted the way things have always been done, but instead, consider better ways of doing your job.

If you don’t wait for others to solve issues and proactively try to identify possible solutions, you’ll quickly establish your value as a problem solver!

Keep in mind that it’s always important to be respectful and polite when you offer suggestions. Instead of simply pointing out issues, try to offer solutions and more importantly, offer to be part of these solutions.

5 Know when to ask for help.

While being proactive and taking initiative is great, it doesn’t mean you need to do everything on your own.

If you’re unsure about how to perform a task or need extra expertise, reach out to someone. You’ll avoid making mistakes, save time and get a great opportunity to learn something new.

6 Accept feedback and be willing to learn.

Whenever you receive feedback at work, try not to resent it. It’s ok to take a second to be upset about it but try not to react defensively. Instead, breathe, listen, and try to absorb what you’re told. The best thing you can do is to ask questions and make sure to fully understand what the person giving feedback means.

The truth is, when someone gives you feedback, it’s proof that they care and want to give you opportunities to improve.

7 Communicate well

If you want to communicate well, don’t just focus on getting your ideas across but start with active listening.

Remember that communication isn’t just about words. Pay attention to non-verbal cues. They can give you great insight on how people are feeling and reacting to what you’re telling them. If you’re talking to people over the phone, pay attention to their tone of voice.

Finally, the best communicators also often ask for feedback.

If you see that something you said might have made someone unhappy or uncomfortable, address it, and ask for feedback on how you can improve. That will go a long way to building good relationships with coworkers.

1 Perform a time audit.

The first step to having a better handle on your time is to have a clear understanding of how you’re spending it. That’s why a time audit is so valuable.

A time audit will show you where you’re spending too much –or too little time.

How to perform a time audit for work:

• Determine how much time you have available each day.

• Compile a list of your tasks.

• Make note of how much time each task should take.

• Time yourself to see how long it actually takes for you to complete each item on your list.