“Being late is okay. Anyway, I get things done as instructed,” says an employee from a company. But, is this really okay? I don’t think so.
Decades ago, you may say that being hardworking, trustworthy and honest will definitely give you the edge to become an outstanding employee or to be hired. However, these are not all. In today’s work arena, various attributes are essential in order to attain the organization’s goals. Hence, work ethics is not as simple as that of reporting to duty, doing the task, and then nothing else.
Work ethics involves strong moral values and also showing up good attitude, taking initiative and having positive relationship with colleagues. It does not mean to impress your bosses with what you can do alone neither taking credit to the tasks that your team did as well. Displaying genuine work ethics in the office will definitely reflect a positive personality and may be a big step to propel ahead in your career.
In building strong work ethics, you must define your “values.” Establishing your set of values will help you carry out your vision and purpose in life and in the workplace. The more established your values are, the more you can perform well at work. In addition, going the extra mile will greatly help. With the advent of emerging technologies, you have to take on various, unexpected roles as competition gets stiffer. The willingness to take initiative, stepping out of your comfort zone and helping each other to cope with difficult tasks are some of what present companies are looking for. Getting feedback and reflecting after a day’s work will also get you somewhere. This gives you an opportunity to grow professionally and personally, as well as doing better the next day which in turn, will fortify your work ethics as you go along.
So instead of saying “I get things done,” start asking “What things did I do well today and what other things could I have done better?” It is vital to understand that if you are getting ready to get ahead or aiming for a promotion, having strong work ethics that works shall certainly be an upper hand in your career.
By: Mr. Rodel M. Fernando | Handycraft Worker 2 | BNHS
