Work Ethic
Definition
Working hard, setting goals, and being dedicated
What is it?
Possessing a strong work ethic means working diligently to fulfill our responsibilities and deliver results. It’s the belief that hard work is an obligation to our bosses and the best way to advance our careers.
Why is it important?
When employers survey the organization to identify high performing and high potential employees, work ethic is almost always part of the equation. People who don’t work hard are simply not seen as high potential assets in the organization no matter how smart they might be. By contrast, people who do work hard are seen as valuable employees, those who are naturally motivated and may go the extra mile to get something done.
Suggestions for Improvement
-
Practice Discipline at Work
First of all, the quickest way for us to improve our work ethic is to work! You need to prove to your coworkers and bosses that you’re a no-nonsense, hard-working, go-to team player. Meaningless chit-chat or complaining should be kept to a minimum. It’s easy to procrastinate and put off difficult or unpleasant tasks. Hard working employees tend to be disciplined and do the most difficult things first.
-
Have High Standards
Second, distinguish yourself by committing to the highest standards of excellence. Good enough is rarely good enough. We must be committed to excellence. Hard working people don’t quit until the job is done right. Whether the task is writing an email or planning an event, hard working people take the time to make sure the outcome is the best possible. That means editing that email before it’s sent and calling the caterer one more time to go over the plan for the event.
-
Be Persistent and Thorough
There comes a time in the life of many projects that we start to lose steam; momentum starts to waiver. It may even be tempting to cut corners and take a few short cuts. But people who work hard push through diligently until the end. They are known as people who get *stuff* done. That might mean staying after work until the task is done or making that extra phone call to resolve a difficult situation. Hard working people are often the ones willing to put in time and effort above what is required.
Video
Books to Read
Websites to Visit
Recent Awards
