Our work is something we spend a large part of our lives doing, which is why it’s important to put effort into making sure we succeed or do a good job in order to feel happy and accomplished. Work is a continuous process where things change and you grow, but there are some baseline habits or actions you can take to help you continue to move forward in your career.

Here are five quick and simple things you can start working on to help you continue to grow and succeed in your career.

Ask for help when you need it

We all need a little help sometimes. No matter how much you think you know or no matter how much you think you can handle anything and everything, every once in a while, something will come up where you will need even just a little bit of help. During these times, don’t be afraid to ask someone for a hand - or take it when someone offers you. There will always be people with more experience and more knowledge than you - allow them to help you when you need it.

If you can, build a relationship with a mentor that can guide you throughout your career. A lot of highly successful people have pointed out that they had a mentor at some point in their career. Mentors not only give you advice on how to move forward with your career, but they can also help you solve problems, connect you to people in the industry, and so much more.

Always acknowledge the people who help you

When someone does help you out, acknowledge them or say thank you. It may seem so simple, but it’s actually a big gesture. Whether that person only helped you with something small for a few minutes or helped you with a huge project, always remember to say thank you. This not only makes them feel good, but it helps strengthen your relationship as well.

Of course, when that person comes to you and needs your help with something as well, return the favor! It’s all about give-and-take.

Get rid of negative attitudes

Negativity is extremely powerful. Even if you think you’re only complaining about little things, those little things add up. Seeing the bad side of things will not only drain yourself, but it will also drain the people around you. Not to mention it’s exhausting!

Yes, it’s true, it’s difficult to be positive all the time, but this is something you can work on and practice little by little. If you catch yourself complaining, stop and take a breath. Program your mindset where instead of complaining, you ask yourself: ‘how can I fix this’, or ‘what can I do to change this situation’.

You know that old saying, “You can’t control what happens around you, but you can control how you react to them”? Focus on how you react to things and try to get rid of negativity as it comes.

Own up to your mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. No matter how hard you try not to make one, it will always happen. While your initial reaction might be to run away, hide, or even blame someone else, those are the worst things that you can do.

What you can do is to own up to it, and come up with a plan on how to fix it. Not only is this something that will help you grow and become better, but it also gives a better impression to your boss or supervisor. And of course, after you’ve made a mistake, learn from it and move on.

Listen more than you speak

They say that there’s a reason why we have TWO ears and only ONE mouth. Listening is a great way to learn a lot of new things. You’ll get a lot of information and learn a lot about a person by simply listening. People have such varied opinions and ideas, you’ll actually gain a lot just by keeping your mouth closed.

Whether your boss or colleague is explaining a project or just talking about what happened to them yesterday, really listen and understand what they are saying. When you truly listen to what the other person is saying, you will minimize misunderstandings.

Besides, it also feels pretty great to be called a good listener!

JANUARY 16, 2019

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