We often see strong work ethics in the list of must-haves for every employee. From ads to job descriptions, employers always include them in traits they require to consider you for a job position.
While a good and strong work ethic can be defined in many ways, these definitions still have one thing in common. And that’s having a set of moral principles that an employee uses in his job performance. Whether you’re at the lowest or highest level of employment, you must exhibit strong work ethics in everything you do.
In order to exhibit them, we need to dive deeper into its meaning. We will also share ways on how to demonstrate a strong work ethic that will surely help you in your respective career.
What is work ethics: the complete definition.
In business definition, work ethics is defined as the “belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent ability to strengthen character.”
In short, work ethic refers to how you feel about your job — which surrounds your behavior and attitude. It also pertains to how well you do your job and the responsibilities that come along with it.
But why is it so important to have a good and strong work ethic? Well, for starters, it shows the strength of your character. It makes you look like an all-around positive person, which can be an advantage for you in the workplace. If you’re looked upon favorably by your employer and superior, there’s a higher chance for you to advance in your respective career. You’d be viewed as someone who is approachable and can lead other people competently. By having a strong work ethic, you will likely perform quality work, have good relationships with your colleagues, and work towards important tasks that are valuable to your organization.
By having these factors, you have better chances of promotion and accomplishing career goals. Exhibiting strong career goals can lead to favorable advantages to your careers, such as promotion, a raise, or even a managerial position.
8 Strong Work Ethics Skills
But how do you know if your work ethic is good and strong? Particularly, those with a strong work ethic display a set of skills. These skills make them stand out as highly-desired and praise-worthy employees.
1. Integrity
To have a strong work ethic, integrity must permeate every aspect of your job. From how you deal with your clients to how you treat everyone in the workplace, you need to do the right thing at all times — even if and especially when no one’s watching.
According to Robert Show, if you’re able to act with integrity, it’s easier for you to earn a certain level of trust. Here’s the formula to support that:
Results + Integrity + Concern = Level of Trust
In this context, acting with integrity means acting consistently. For instance, as a member of a team, your behavior as a whole should be harmonious. And when I say harmonious, it means acting under a clear set of guidance toward a purpose.
2. Reliability
All employees with strong work ethics have one thing in common — and it’s being reliable. You will notice that these top-notch employees are always on time for shifts and meetings. They strive to offer quality work, and they make sure to submit them on time. When you’re a reliable employee, other team members will be excited to have you as their teammate because they know that you always do your best by contributing fairly to projects.
3. Responsibility.
For you to thrive in the workplace, you need to have a keen sense of responsibility. Remember that the moment you became part of the organization, you have agreed to take full responsibility for the tasks and duties you must fulfill. If you want to have a strong work ethic, you must ensure that you can fulfill your task and duties. Make sure that you do your best to get the best results.
4. Productivity
A strong work ethic also translates to excellent productivity. When you are productive, it manifests through the amount of output you can render compared to your counterparts.
Additionally, as a productive employee, you must show that you can complete projects early and do more than the minimum requirements.
5. Sense of Teamwork
Knowing that you are part of an organization, you must also know that you need to work with other people. If you are unable to play your part as a team member, it will put your work ethic into question.
6. Discipline
Strong work ethics stems from you. No matter how many times someone tells you to do this and to do that, it’s still up to how you handle things with discipline. If you do not have enough discipline to stick to the rules, there’s no way you can be the productive employee that a company wants.
Keep in mind that to stay disciplined, you need to be dedicated and determined to do what you should.
7. Dedication
Part of a good work ethic is staying committed and dedicated to your job. You must know how to focus on your tasks despite the distractions and challenges that come your way. Remember that the moment you signed your employee agreement, you’ve agreed to stay committed to your job throughout your occupancy in the company.
8. Professionalism
The word “professionalism” may seem wide in scope. After all, it covers everything from how you dress to how you conduct yourself in front of other people.
When it comes to workplace rules, you need to show your professionalism by using your self-management skills. Even though your boss is not there to watch over you 24/7, you must follow all workplace rules and complete all tasks and projects.
As a professional, you need to dress like it too. Dress appropriately and maintain good personal hygiene. Bear in mind that you represent your company, so be sure to observe professionalism from the way you dress to the way you talk.
Ways to Develop a Strong Work Ethic
Honestly, developing a strong work ethic doesn’t have to be a hard row to hoe. You can demonstrate a good job ethic just by simply doing small things each day. Here are several tips you need to try to improve your work ethic.
1. Always be punctual.
To make a good impression and display good job ethics, you should always be punctual for work and appointments. If you’re the type of person who struggles to wake up in the morning, setting the clock ahead extra earlier can help. Otherwise, showing up late for work can make you seem like you’re not devoted to your job.
2. To exhibit strong work ethics, you need to act as an ambassador for the company.
Always maintain a positive attitude toward the company professionally and personally. Even if you’re outside the scope of your job, you need to help your company by seeking ways to further the business.
3. Manage your time effectively
Time management is not limited to being punctual and meeting deadlines. It actually involves more than that. Another way to exhibit wise time management is to maintain a good attendance record. A high rate of absenteeism truly does not bode well, even if it’s unintentional–like being frequently ill. But if that’s the case, you must take up the matter with your superiors. Talk to them and make sure to come up with a solution that will benefit everyone.
When it comes to deadlines, your employers will likely be in favor of someone who strives to finish his tasks just as the clock hits 12 than someone who barely beats the deadline. If you can finish your task ahead of time, it’s a good sign that you’re able to manage your time wisely. Otherwise, there are other ways to improve your time management skills.
4. Having a strong work ethic also means being honest at all times.
“Honesty is the best policy” may sound a bit cliche, but it still stands the test of time. When Warren Buffet cited three qualities to look for when hiring new people, he listed integrity, intelligence, and energy. If you lie about these three qualities to get the job, always know that you can’t be dishonest forever. Sooner or later, the lie will manifest itself, and surely, it will do you no good.
And while we’re on the topic of honesty, there are still other things you can do to display a strong work ethic. For one, you should always give honest feedback. By giving honest feedback, you show that you are capable of objectivity. Your colleagues will value you more if you show that you can provide honest feedback. And if you’re able to get your feedback across without coming off as arrogant and offensive, then this just proves even more that you have a strong work ethic.
If you did something wrong, be the bigger person that you are and own up to it. Instead of denying all the blame and even pinning it down to other people, don’t you think the best action is to take responsibility? Plus, it’s a sign that your work ethic is through the roof.
5. Showing respect means showing strong work ethics.
Sadly, respect is becoming a rare commodity these days. We may hate to admit it, but people are becoming more disrespectful and insolent toward other people these days — it’s like a new trend. But you don’t have to go with the flow. After all, respect still remains as one of the traits that employers look for to tell if an employee has a strong work ethic or not.
Yes, proper etiquette is greatly valued in the workplace. A tiny shift away from proper etiquette can destroy your relationship with others that you have nurtured for a very long time. In the workplace, there’s no excuse for being disrespectful to other people. Even if you’ve been put under pressure, like deadlines and impossible demands, you should never let your temper get the best of you.
Always remember to stay calm and diplomatic. Choose your words carefully so as not to offend other people. If someone voices out their opinions even though you don’t fully agree with them, take time to listen to what they have to say. Doing these little things show that you respect them enough to care for their feelings and opinions.
6. Always maintain a consistent performance.
All employees with a strong work ethic are productive employees. From their pace of work to their persistence in maintaining that pace, you can see how much productivity they dedicate to their job. If you can work at a fast pace, that means you value the limited time you have to accomplish more than the bare minimum.
As an employee, your main concern is to perform your core tasks and duties. But it’s not enough to only do what is needed. As an employee with a strong work ethic and high productivity, you must step above and beyond the minimum expectations regarding the quality of your work. Bear in mind that an employee who is committed to their job is favored by their superiors. Because at the end of the day, the quality of your work is part of the overall output of the organization.
7. Follow the rules at all times.
If you’re not able to follow simple rules, like properly clocking in when you get to work and keeping your desk clean and organized, your superiors will take that as a sign that you’d find it even harder to follow the rules that actually matter.
So how can you show that you value the laws of the workplace?
For starters, it’s important to be aware of the company policies. Make it a point to read through your company handbook, so you can save yourself from the mistake of arguing ignorance if ever you’re called out for violating a policy. Additionally, knowing about the policies and regulations will put you in a positive light. Your boss will see it as a sign of commitment on your part.
Another key characteristic of professionalism is following the dress code. While appearance may not be all that matters in the workplace, it still matters to a certain extent. Even employees who do manual labor have a required dress code that they must adhere to. As an employee who represents his organization, how you dress will reflect positively to your organization.
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