Hold Yourself Accountable in the Workplace

Your boss and your company will hold you accountable for your workplace behavior and accomplishments. Go one better and hold yourself accountable.

• Perform your tasks to the best of your ability, completing them in a timely manner.
• Maintain a positive attitude daily.
• Adhere to a strict code of personal behavior.
• Keep skills up to date and learn new ones as required.
• Become an expert in your field.
• Use good judgment.
• Speak kindly and tactfully.

Taking responsibility for your actions and words will preserve your value to the boss and company. How will you hold yourself accountable?

Promote Career Success

Spring is coming. Don't be fooled by thinking career success will automatically happen without input on your part. Career success needs to be cultivated and attended to daily. Here are some things to do every day to make sure you are promoting career success:

• Plan for your advancement by writing down your goals.
• Maintain a positive attitude.
• Do something every day to add value to your company. This can be as simple as doing the best job you can do each day.
• Do more than required.
• Look for solutions to problems.
• Maintain a professional demeanor.
• Be a results-oriented employee.
• Make yourself valuable to your boss.
• Hone your leadership skills.
• Ask your boss to evaluate your work and provide feedback.
• Ask if there is anything else you can do be valuable to your boss.
• Steer clear of gossips and troublemakers.
• Get along with everyone in the workplace.

By maintaining a "success" mindset, you can steer your career in the right direction. What steps have you taken to ensure your career success?

Meet Deadlines - Increase Your Efficiency

Meeting deadlines is a workplace priority. Here are some tips on meeting deadlines and sticking to those busy schedules.

• Prioritize. No one has time to do everything he or she would like to accomplish in a limited amo9unt of time, so it is necessary to arrange a to-do list according to one’s priorities.
• Work on one task at a time until it is finished if possible. Switching from one task to another causes a lull in productivity. The mind has to re-familiarize itself with each task when switching.
• Eliminate distractions. This includes internal and external distractions.
• Work efficiently. Is there a better way to do a task than the way you have always done it? Can you prepare in some way before beginning the task?
• Make decisions quickly. Explore all options and commit to a plausible action to resolve the problem.
• Develop your skills and keep up with technology that will help you complete tasks.
• Just do what needs to be done.

 Taking the initiative, working efficiently, and doing everything necessary to meet deadlines will pay off in a big way.

Spring Forward in Your Career

With the arrival of spring and new growth all around us, it seems a good time to reflect on ways we can grow and spring forward in the workplace. Here are some quick tips to help you climb the corporate ladder:

• Clearly define your career ambitions.
• Ask yourself if you are ready and willing to accept the responsibilities that go with the position you hope to attain.
• Learn all you can about what it takes to advance in your company.
• Emulate the people in the position you would like to attain.
• Find a mentor in the type of position you desire.
• Develop a plan of action that will lead you to the position you desire.
• Know the criteria your supervisor uses to evaluate your performance.
• Master the tasks you are given and look for ways to do them more efficiently.
• Follow through on all tasks and keep your word.
• Keep a record of your accomplishments.
• Learn something new each week.
• Practice excellent time management, organization, and customer relations skills.
• Dress and act like a professional.

Find a Mentor to Ensure Career Success

Finding the right person to be your mentor can significantly increase your chances of career success. If possible, find a mentor who is willing to teach you what you need to know to attain your goal(s). This mentor should be someone who has the character traits you admire and who is in a position you aspire to hold or is doing what you hope to do. He or she should give you straightforward information and honest, positive critiques. You don’t want someone who says, “Yes, you are wonderful,” without providing proper guidance and criticism that will mold you into the person you hope to be.

How do you find a mentor?

·        Network, network, network. You have to put yourself out there and ask for help. Most people are willing to help others.

·        Join groups and seek successful members.

·        Observe others in the workplace. Who would be the best person from which to learn?

·        Take a class, get a tutor, or hire a coach.

Your mentor should be an expert in the area in which you want to learn. In addition, he/she should be able to teach; that is, get information across in an easy-to-understand way. Some people are experts in their fields, but they cannot convey information to others clearly.

Modeling successful people who have achieved what you want provides a readymade road map to reach your goals.

Career Advancement

To advance in your career, demonstrate your value to your employer and those around you. Be highly visible and take charge of situations when warranted. Continuously challenge yourself and members of your team. Act like management material by following these guidelines:

• Take advantage of every available opportunity to learn and grow.
• Establish behaviors that stand out positively in the minds of supervisors.
• Develop excellent critical thinking skills.
• Be a self-directed worker who performs duties with proficiency.
• Act professional at all times and display integrity and ethical behavior.
• Take on extra responsibilities and help others.
• Become an expert in your field.
• Participate in lifelong learning to keep your expertise up to date.

Take a long, hard look at your personal qualities and adjust your strategies to align yourself closer to the way management level people behave. With an inner drive and a determination to achieve, you can position yourself to rise to a higher level

Be the Best Professional You Can Be

When dealing with customers, coworkers, and supervisors, keep these points in mind:

· First impressions are lasting. Both satisfied and dissatisfied people will spread the word about you.
· Make people feel good by giving them your complete attention when dealing with them.
· Form professional relationships. Learn your coworkers’ work habits and your customers’ needs and wants.
· Be trustworthy. People like dealing with those they trust.
· Keep your promises—always. Don’t make promises you PLAN to keep—only those you WILL keep.
· Become an expert in your field.
· Act on problems and deal with complaints immediately.
· Remember the competition. If you do cannot help the customer, some other company will. If you cannot do the job, someone else will.
· Customers, coworkers, and supervisors contribute to your success.
· Do something extraordinary to make your customers, coworkers, and supervisors believe in you.

Spring Forward in Your Career

This weekend we will “spring forward” by turning our clocks ahead one hour. Perhaps this is a good time to determine how to spring forward in the workplace by seeking advancement. Here are some quick tips to help you climb the corporate ladder:

· Clearly define your career ambitions.
· Learn all you can about what it takes to advance in your company.
· What do the top people in the company do on a daily basis?
· Are you willing to accept those responsibilities?
· Develop a plan of action that allows you to emulate the top people in the company.
· Master the tasks you are given and look for ways to do them more efficiently.
· Follow through on all tasks
· Keep a record of your accomplishments.
· Know the criteria your supervisor uses to evaluate your performance.
· Learn something new each week.
· Find ways to overcome obstacles (brainstorm ideas, find a mentor, make better
decisions, take a class, etc.)
· Find small ways to manage your time better.
· Dress and act like a professional.

Cultivate a Successful Career

Today is April Fool's Day. Don't be fooled by thinking career success will automatically happen without much input on your part. Career success needs to be cultivated and attended to daily. Here are some things to do every day to make sure you are cultivating career success:

• Plan for your advancement by writing down your goals.


• Maintain a positive attitude.


• Do something every day to add value to your company. This can be as simple as doing the best job you can do each day.


• Do more than required.


• Look for solutions to problems.


• Maintain a professional demeanor.


• Be a results-oriented employee.


• Make yourself valuable to your boss.


• Hone your leadership skills.


• Ask your boss to evaluate your work and provide feedback.


• Ask if there is anything else you can do be valuable to your boss.


• Steer clear of gossips and troublemakers.


• Get along with everyone in the workplace.

By maintaining a "success" mindset, you can steer your career in the right direction. What steps have you taken to ensure your career success?

Assess Those Career Goals

How are the career goals coming along? Many people forget about their New Year's resolutions about now, so let's focus instead on goals. In keeping with the career theme, here are tips for setting career goals for 2011:

• Assess where you are at the moment in your career--are you satisfied in your position or do you want to move up or move out?
• Assess your skills and education as needed to advance in your position or to change careers.
• Research applicable positions and companies.
• Set specific goals that will lead you to your career desires.
• Keep a positive attitude with regard to attaining your goals.
• Take charge and do something to move yourself toward your goals--sign up for a class, send out resumes, research companies, network, schedule interviews, and so forth
• Assess your progress and make adjustments when necessary.

With planning and action, you have a good chance to reach your goals.

Career Advancement

To advance in your career, demonstrate your value to your employer and those around you. Be highly visible and take charge of situations when warranted. Continuously challenge yourself and members of your team. Act like management material by following these guidelines:

• Take advantage of every available opportunity to learn and grow.
• Establish behaviors that stand out positively in the minds of supervisors.
• Develop excellent critical thinking skills.
• Be a self-directed worker who performs duties with proficiency.
• Act professional at all times and display integrity and ethical behavior.
• Take on extra responsibilities and help others.
• Become an expert in your field.
• Participate in lifelong learning to keep your expertise up to date.

Take a long, hard look at your personal qualities and adjust your strategies to align yourself closer to the way management level people behave. With an inner drive and a determination to achieve, you can position yourself to rise to a higher level.