Being a great employee is an easy way to advance in your career, actually enjoy your time at work, and to grow as a person.
Being a good employee is normally an overcomplicated discussion, but it doesn’t have to be. It comes down to 2 working traits and 1 personal trait. These traits will work regardless of industry and amongst almost all types of people.
Act with Urgency
If you act with urgency then people will know that they can rely on you to get the job done. Regardless of if a manager is asking you to clean a table or to make progress on a big task, if you act with urgency then you’ll be praised for it.
The way to always act with urgency is to know what needs to be done and roughly how long it will take. You’ve got to keep a mental list of tasks that need doing and in what order you’ll do them. It’s also a good idea to work to checkpoints, depend on what the task is obviously, so that you can step away from it if needs be. This is how you create time to get drinks or go to the toilet.
It’s important that you don’t inconvenience yourself just to please others. When asked to complete a new task, you should first think about your list of tasks, how much time you think they’ll take to complete, and then where you can place the new task into that list. Then, give the person a truthful answer as to when you can get to the task and how long that will take.
Being truthful is the key here. If you can’t do something within a reasonable time then explaining that and why will mitigate any negative consequences.
Be Reliable
If you’re a reliable employee then you won’t get much praise, but you’ll have respect. People will know that they can come to your for help and that you will get the job done. Think of it like a good friend who you know you could go to for help if you ever needed it.
Becoming a reliable employee does take some time but a lot of that time will come with learning the job. You’ve got to know what the task is, how to do it, how to do it well, and how to do it effectively. This all takes experience, but you can gain that experience during the learning process.
Another way to become a reliable employee is to have a can do attitude at work. This means attempting tasks even if you can’t do them. The trick here is to use logic as well as ask for help if needed to get the task done. Then, because you completed the task, you will get the praise for doing so and will be regarded as a reliable employee.
Talk to Everyone
Regardless of if the people you work with are good people or not, they will talk about you when you’re not around. Having spoken to them, made them laugh, and made them feel positive emotions is the key to keeping your name in a good light.
The trick for talking to anyone is to start with high energy and then come down to match their energy. This way, you’re not annoying but you’re able to get a conversation out of just about anyone. Most people will engage in conversation with you if they see that you’re enthusiastic and cheerful which is why starting high is important.
To start a conversation if you’re new, just say “Hi, I’m x” and go from there. Ask them questions about the job, how long they’ve been here, and so forth to learn about them. Then, pick up on things they’ve said and asl further about that. Share your own experiences and thoughts along with theirs and that’s how conversation flows.
Overview
- A great employee acts with urgency, is reliable, and talks to everyone
- You should keep a mental list of tasks at all times
- Being reliable comes down to experience but you can gain that by having a can do attitude
- The trick for talking to anyone is to start with high energy and then come down to their level
