20points
For Success in the Workplace
- Always Act with Integrity and Honesty
· This one is non-negotiable. You either have integrity or you don’t. You either behave honestly or you don’t. As professionals who represent not only ourselves but also our company, clients and customers – we can settle for nothing less than 100% integrity and honesty in all we do and at all times. What we allow will become our standard. There is simply never a good reason for behaving any other way – only an excuse.
- Respond
· Actually, I like the word “respondability.” This is one item that will separate you from the pack. This has been a key to any personal success I have enjoyed and critical to the success of my company and that of the teams with which I have worked. When we are totally responsive to our client’s needs, and the needs of those around us - we become value-added and an indispensable partner. To be responsive means being available, being prepared to carry out a mission on short or no notice and doing so in a positive and professional manner. Clients may not always notice when we are responsive but they absolutely notice when we are not. Responsiveness and “respondability” also apply to our co-workers in need. Help one another whenever you can, the next one to need help may be you.
- Anticipate
· We have to think like our clients, supervisors, and teammates think and before they do, when possible. When we can anticipate their next question or next requirement or anticipate the next turn in the road that they may not have considered, we add value. Think over the horizon. What may happen next and what does anticipating that possibility do to enhance preparation and appropriate reaction? Anticipation is also taking ACTION. When we sense the need for a briefing or presentation developing – prepare a draft for the client – don’t give her a blank page – give her something to ponder, change and play with. She will appreciate your thinking ahead and saving her some work. It is far easier to edit than to create so we are providing a great service when we take the lead and get out in front of requirements.
- Follow-up
· We have all heard of “an action passed is an action completed.” Well, that is not the way it works. When you start an action – it is YOURS till it is completed. An action that you touch should nag at you until you know it is completed. Don’t assume someone else took it over for you – check on it, help move it along and stay on top of it – you are accountable for it – only you. Another aspect of the Follow-Up tenet is to close the loop with the people around you. When you are asked a question, answer it. When someone is clearly expecting to hear from you – be sure they do. Remember how frustrating it is when you have asked your supervisor, client or colleague a question, sought guidance or wanted clarification before moving forward and the lack of response (and evidently interest) was deafening?! Don’t be guilty of the same lack of follow-up with those in your world.
5. Identify Problems and Solutions
· As professionals, we are expected to develop and offer solutions to problems we encounter and identify. When you see a problem and pass it along to your boss or client without offering a course of action or two to address it, your value is limited. Think about the root causes of the problem, what can be enacted now and in the future to overcome, mitigate or avoid the problem and suggest solutions. When you play a role in shortening the time between problem identification and solution – you become known as a problem solver; and you become more valuable to the organization. By the way, the more solutions you generate, the more problems will find you – being the go-to person on the team is a mixed blessing.
- Demonstrate Personal Accountability
· When you get an action or are given a responsibility – your leaders will rightfully hold you ACCOUNTABLE for it. There will be times that you will have to depend on others for help or input or other support to complete the action but you must appreciate that regardless of all that – in the end, you are accountable. You can’t walk away and point the finger at someone else who failed you – it was yours to do. So, you will need to muster all your personal and professional skills and use them to get the support you need to be successful. This is often quite a challenge. Work to be the kind of colleague that others want to support and help succeed. Help others and they will, in all likelihood, be there for you.
- Work Hard
· I guess this should go without saying but here it is anyway. The work we do is not always a pleasure cruise – sometimes it’s fun and energizing but sometimes it is just hard work. Be grateful when you work in an environment that notices hard work and recognizes when that extra effort is applied. If you don’t – keep looking because happiness and satisfaction will elude you until you do. You can’t shy away from hard work – you are compensated for the work you do so always give it 100% effort and you will never be faulted. Remember the wise words of the baseball manager in the movie A League of Their Own, “…if it was easy, everyone would do it.”
- Show a Sense of Urgency
· We have to maintain a healthy sense of urgency about our work. This not only keeps the interest high and the adrenaline flowing – it demonstrates our level of concern for the mission at hand. Nothing is more painful to watch than an employee half-stepping his or her way through the day. Most anyone can spot it in a minute and those who are pumping along tend to resent those who take on work like it was the Ebola virus. Get your work done as quickly as you can and show everyone that you care about the task. That pep in your step is another discriminator that separates you from everyone else. When you have a mission to accomplish, just do it!
- Foster Personal Discipline
· Be professional. Be on time, be prompt for meetings, dress properly, be prepared wherever you go and don’t do anything to embarrass yourself or the company and the people you represent. More and more emphasis is placed on this trait these days, maybe because it seems to be in shorter supply than in the past. Strive to be the kind of person that others will look up to. Set the bar high for yourself and you will never regret the reaction you get from others or the improved results you derive from within. When you demonstrate a high degree of personal discipline, you can expect to see it in those around you too.
- Lead by Example and Follow Well and Faithfully
· You don’t have to be in a leadership position to be a leader. The best leaders lead by example. Everyone watches everyone so be sure what you are demonstrating is what you really want to portray – a capable, confident professional who does his job to the best of his ability – all day, every day. The military has long had an axiom that you are “on parade 24 hours a day.” Remember that and act accordingly. Take charge when you must and do so with confidence – don’t be surprised when others follow you. They will. Learn how to be a good follower too. Everyone has a boss and our roles as followers can make or break our leaders and affect the overall success of the entire organization. Good followers tend to grow into good leaders because they understand the other side of the equation. Followership is more than taking orders and doing what you are told. It’s adhering to norms, being part of the team and encouraging others to join in the undertaking to achieve a goal.
- Be Loyal in All Directions
· Be loyal to your employer, your supervisor, your co-worker and your subordinates. This is one of those traits that will always cut both ways. This is pretty basic but is often absent or situationally dependent. Loyalty means you don’t partake in rumor mongering and you don’t trash others behind their backs. Professional disagreements are one thing but backstabbing and the like is disloyalty and it cheapens you and those who engage in it. Loyalty does not imply that you should be blinded by it; not al all. Do what’s right but be loyal to those that surround you. If you feel that you must go in another direction, be open and candid with your reasons and do so, but guard against being underhanded and slick.
- Be Consistent
· It seems that lately, I hear more and more complaints that leaders and managers are unpredictable and even “diagnosed” as bi-polar in their behavior. Happy and positive one day and critical and cruel the next. Some workers claim these moods change daily or even hourly. Nothing can be more debilitating and disheartening than not knowing what to do because you fear the unknown response or consequence. Solid leaders are consistent. Their employees know what to expect, within a given range, of course. If you are a supervisor and are of the mind that leaving your staff members confused about what to expect from you next is a good thing – think again. This lack of consistency only harbors mistrust, ill will and fear.
- Show Gratitude and Respect for Others
· The Golden Rule applies and they don’t call it golden for nothing. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. Respect one another as individuals and you will be respected in return – it’s that simple. Do you know the PLATINUM RULE? Do unto others as they would like to be done unto. The English is probably wrong but you get the idea. This requires some real people skills and the desire to extend yourself. Respect is one of those unusual commodities that you can only receive by giving.
- Build Teamwork and Collaboration
· You are not alone. Don’t ever spend time banging your head on the wall because you feel isolated and alone in your work and can’t get ahead of it. Find a teammate, co-worker, supervisor – anyone – and ask for the help you need. Usually, the response will be very positive – you may be surprised. It’s tempting to feel vulnerable and insufficient if you need to ask for help, but don’t allow that to stop you. In the circle of life, you will find yourself on the opposite side of this fence sometime. Getting things done together – may be far more efficient than going it alone. Learn to work together towards a solution. Give and take. Very few people can accomplish great things alone – in fact, I am not sure anyone ever has. It does take cooperation and collaboration to succeed, so extend your reach and permit others to reach out to you to foster true success.
- Promote a Common Purpose
· Call it vision if you like. Good leaders recognize that with no visible, achievable or defined target, even well-intended actions are random and arbitrary. Leaders help identify the common purpose and unify the team members to move toward that target. They provide the goal and the means to get there. It can be challenging, but a key role of leadership is explaining how all the disparate parts need to work in concert to achieve success. Without the common purpose defined, employees and teams could find themselves working at leas than peak efficiency or worse – working against one another.
- Infuse Passion
· We have all heard much said about the benefits of having a passion for your life’s work. It is true, you know. Get passionate about what you are doing. Start to appreciate that what you do makes a difference in the lives of real people out there. If you can’t feel energetic and enthused and upbeat about spending your day trying to make things better (systems, outcomes, relationships, and so on), then you need to check for a pulse. Working is great and noble and you should be proud of your daily contributions to the cause, whatever it is. So put that pep in your step and smile more – you are making a difference to a lot of people.
- Cultivate Your Reputation
· You are your reputation. What does yours say about you? Work every day to improve it by doing what is right, taking care of one another and over-extending yourself to your client, your customers and your co-workers. Do that and your reputation will speak volumes. Keep this in mind…its not who’s right, it’s what’s right, that’s important.
- Display a Seriousness of Purpose and a Sense of Humor
· Take your job seriously. Work hard at becoming better at it. Study what you need to learn to become proficient and competent. Work is a serious business and others will be depending on you knowing your job. Yes, work is serious but you still need to have fun. Keep your sense of humor at all costs! Use it to diffuse tense situations but be careful to use it appropriately – never to hurt someone else. No matter how hard the day or how long the hours – it could always be worse. We rarely have bleeding and death to contend with so keep things in perspective.
- Continue to Grow
· You are responsible for your development and growth as a person and professionally. Others may be around to help with training, education and job placement when appropriate, but we each need to take responsibility for discovering what we want to be and how we want to get there. You will always be your best career manager. When you stop growing, you die. Be on the lookout for that next opportunity and be prepared. Success is when preparation meets opportunity.
- Care for Those in Your Charge
· As a leader, nothing is more defining that the way you take care of those in your service. In this respect, leadership is not very different than parenthood. Your employees depend on you to set and enforce high standards, lead by example, and help them succeed. Leaders who care only for themselves or place themselves above the welfare of others are destined for failure, or at the very best, limited success. The responsibility of leadership is great and you must constantly earn the right to be called a leader.
Copywrite 2007 by Dave Maurer
Dave Maurer is a Vice President with Axiom Resource Management, Inc. in Falls Church, Virginia. He is a retired Army lieutenant colonel who has served in multiple assignments in more than 21 years on active duty. He has commanded troops, and held several senior staff positions including a tour as the Executive Assistant for the Director of Manpower and Personnel (J-1) on the Joint Staff and finally, as the 72nd Adjutant General of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He is a certified Project Management Professional. He has lectured on the topics of leadership, negotiation, and project management for the FBI, the CIA, the World Bank, the University of Maryland Smith School of Business, the Project Management Institute, the United States Air Force, the United States Marine Corps, and other elements within the Department of Defense.
