How To Succeed In The Workplace

Do you remember the stress caused by anxiety about a new job? Have you ever had a conflict with a co-worker that you did not know how to address? Has your spouse had to listen to your complaints about the lack of communication at your work place? Do you have apprehension regarding working in or speaking to groups of co-workers and supervisors? Most importantly, do you have trouble finding a good balance between your professional and social life? If so, you are like many people who are lacking confidence in their ability to succeed in the work place. In order to thrive in the workforce one should prepare for success, know the fundamentals of communication, have the ability to work in groups, understand the roles of leaders, and be capable of keeping balance in their life. Following these guidelines will help you succeed in the work place.

Preparing to succeed

{Mental and emotional preparation, how to be productive}

The first element of being successful in the workplace is being prepared. There are many simple ways to prepare yourself for a new job or revitalize yourself for your current position. Talk with confidence and present yourself in a professional manor, (DuBrin 87) the more you appear confident and professional the more you appear competent. Surrounding yourself with positive people is a good way to assist your own positive attitude. Exercise, not only does it relieve stress but it also improves your memory (DuBrin 58). Organize your skills and list ten areas in which you excel, this will make you appreciate your talent and know what to work on (DuBrin 60). When you learn something new, like a person’s name, think about it and plan on remembering it because then you are more likely to remember it (DuBrin 56)! Do not forget to use mnemonic devices for memorization. Fundamentally, the more you practice the better.

Talk with your family about what you are doing. You will feel better knowing they support you. Remember to concentrate; it increases your mental and physical capabilities (DuBrin 55). Listening to criticism is an important part of any job. Be outgoing yet flexible (DuBrin 87). Incorporate good advice into your routine. Find aspects within a job that interest you and put your soul into important projects. You will be more comfortable and confident if you see significance in your work. If you ever fear that your confidence is lacking use “positive self-talk” (like the little engine that could…I think I can, I think I can…) (DuBrin 86) not only will it boost your confidence, it is also a form of stress reduction. Go out of your way to learn new skills and advertise them (DuBrin 87). Always imagine the best possible outcomes for every situation. Having higher confidence about your role at your job is the best way to be prepared.

Communicating with Others

{Individually and in small groups}

Having good communication skills is extremely important in the business world. One prominent aspect of communication is constructive criticism. A professional should know how to give and take criticism in a proficient manner. When giving constructive criticism, make sure you do it in private. It is rude and embarrassing when called on a mistake in front of co-workers and customers. Only discuss the facts of a situation, never complain about the people themselves. Make sure you offer a solution or ideal goal (DuBrin 239). If you are addressing a co-worker, make sure you do not act as if you have more authority than they do (DuBrin 239). When receiving criticism remember not to take it personally. Criticism is an attempt to help. Make yourself better from it.

Communication encompasses a great deal more than just talking. It is frequently more important to listen. Being an active listener means to empathize with the speaker (276). You can do this by paying attention to what they say and express that you understand. Try not to take things defensively when spoken to; this can better a situation also. Remember that you should not take things personally and if it seems offensive ask yourself, “could my interpretation just have come from the wording?”

An added matter with communication comes from cross-cultural barriers (DuBrin 273). We all have environments in our lives with diversity. However, in the workplace we must be able to work past these differences to maintain productivity. Having cultural sensitivity, “an awareness of and willingness to investigate the reasons why people of another culture act as they do (DuBrin 273),” will enable you to deal with such differences. Make sure not to stereotype or be disrespectful to co-workers. If in a situation with language barriers, be sure to speak slowly and clearly in order to transcend an accurate depiction of your message (DuBrin 274). Do not let superficial factors affect you (DuBrin 274). Try to understand not just agree. Differences in values can otherwise lead to conflict (DuBrin 274).

One proponent, which many forget about in reference to communication in the work place, is electronic messages. It is important not only to utilize such tools as email and instant messaging but also to know proper etiquette in doing so. If you are unprofessional in your mannerism while sending email, it still reflects back on you. Do not communicate only by email, as this can get overwhelming due to mass amounts of email that many receive (DuBrin 271). In addition, do not replace face-to-face discussions involving conflict with email. Nor should you send heated messages through email. Alternatively, the more received emails you can respond to, and quickly, the better. This way, you do not appear uninterested and can create your own professional persona online. (DuBrin 272)

In your effort to becoming effective in communication, one can perfect their telephone and voice mail skills. It is good to have a set dialog for answering the phone. Answering in a similar professional manor by everyone is ideal. For example, “Good morning, Sally Potter School, this is Ms. Tuzzio speaking, how may I direct your call?” The caller will then know they have reached the correct number, to whom they are speaking and may direct their needs accordingly. Always address people by name it shows respect and that you were actually listening when they told you! Speaking at a reasonable speed makes you clearly understood and if you smile while you talk, somehow, people can tell! Always be sure to take notes especially when taking messages. Be relentless about being friendly on the phone. Be precise and direct in your responses. (DuBrin 297)

To avoid constant calls