There are a lot of factors that combined together influence our chances of getting that promotion and going up the corporate ladder. Some of these factors are inborn traits, some are traits that we picked up along the way, and while there are things that we cannot change, like the fact that our boss is a bully, there are certain good working habits that we should work on if we want to reach high executive status.
These are the 6 simple habits that are the foundation for your promotional aspirations.
1. Always Be Punctual
Everyone comes late once in a year, or maybe even twice, but making a habit out of it sends all the wrong signals to your employer. Leave your house early if you have to; and what if you come 10 or 15 minutes early – that will only be seen as a plus by your boss. Coming on time and fulfilling deadlines means that you respect your job and that you can manage your obligations well. If you cannot manage your obligations, your employer will not trust you with a team to manage, of that you can be certain.
2. Take Responsibility For Your Actions
Here we mean you should have the courage to take responsibility when a failure occurs. It might sound strange, but by doing so you gain the trust of your employer and coworkers. On the other hand, blaming others for your failures will only make them disrespect you and not feel relaxed around you. When your boss notices this (and he will), you can be sure that you are not going to be the one who gets promoted.
3. Look Good
Let’s face it, we live in a world where appearance matters and this is especially the case if your job demands of you to work closely with people. Getting out of bed, coming to work in the first outfit that you were able to grab out of your closet with your hair looking all messy is something that will give you the nickname ‘Company Loser’. Have you ever seen a company executive looking sloppy? No, and you probably won’t. You have to dress for your goal – if you want to become a company executive you need to dress as a company executive. If you are a man go with a classic looking suit and you won’t go wrong, while if you are a woman you have numerous combinations of office attire at your disposal.
4. Avoid Gossiping
People just love to gossip, don’t they? But believe me, there is nothing more detrimental than gossiping about your coworkers at the office – especially if the company has a small staff. Establishing good communication with coworkers is really important, but never try to establish it by talking dirty about another colleague. Life is not an episode of ‘Game of Thrones’ and be sure that trash talk will ruin your chances of getting promoted.
5. Don’t Be Afraid To Pitch In Your Ideas
Skipping the opportunity to share your ideas is skipping the opportunity to shine. If you have any suggestions on how to improve the company’s productivity or public image don’t be afraid to share it with your boss and colleagues at the next company meeting. Yes, sometimes this means leaving your comfort zone and risking being rejected and even ridiculed, but this is the only way you can really stand out. Feeling confident about your ideas and decisions and being assertive are the traits that every high executive must possess.
6. Maintain A Well-Organized Desk
Just like it is expected that you look well, it is also expected that your desk looks well. If you think that a sloppy desk only has to do with a character flaw, think again. Even though you might think that it doesn’t have any effect on your work, studies show that the piled up stuff is bound to distract you and keep you away from being productive.
As we already said, there are a lot of other factors, but these are the basic habits that you must adopt in order to improve your career. It may seem easy enough, but living and working by these ‘rules’ day in and day out is everything but not easy. However, it will get you named ‘employee of the month’.