The 10 Golden Work Attitudes
© 2003 By Joan Marques
Although every work environment has its own peculiarities and,
therefore,
its own unique approach requirements, there may still be some general
points
to ponder in every setting. These points, based on positive
organizational
behavior, have proven to work through times, cultures, and work
environments. They may do it for you too!
1. Be friendly and helpful to superiors, peers, and subordinates alike,
but
don’t overdo it. This approach calls for two clarifications:
a. First: Some people only hang out with those individuals at work that
they
consider valuable to their career progress. They thereby forget that
there
is a way up and one down, and that one never knows who will cross his
or her
path on a rainy day. Being friendly toward everybody you come
cross -colleagues and customers alike- is really not an altruistic
mentality, because it will deliver its pay off on the long term: when
you
least expect it.
b. Second: Some people are so excessively friendly and nice that the
insincerity drips from all sides of their attitude. This may have a
reverse
effect on what they actually want to obtain: being liked by everybody.
The
reason is simple: Most people can easily see through hypocritical
behavior.
They will lose their trust in you and consider you to be a person to be
careful with.
2. Stay alert. Try to distinguish the simple stuff from the important,
and
make sure you keep documentation on every issue that may come back to
haunt
you later. The friendly people you work with today may be gone
tomorrow, and
so will be their goodwill, then. It is therefore imperative to make
sure
that you keep appointments, agreements, and important decisions
documented
as securely as possible.
3. Analyze. It is especially important with regards to the people you
work
with to know where you really stand. Consider the possibility of
running
across some colleagues with a point 1a-mentality: hypocritical. You
should
always know what you can say, and where. This brings to mind a quote I
read
long ago: “To keep your lips from slips; five things observe with care:
To
whom you speak; Of whom you speak; and How, and When, and Where.” There
is
no setting where this applies better than the work environment.
4. Socialize. You don’t have to attend every get-together with
co-workers
outside work, but now and then it may be appropriate to show your face.
Getting to know people outside of the work setting, and allowing them
to get
to know you may enhance the mutual feelings of trust and connection.
5. Sharpen your creative skills. Don’t slack away in a routine of daily
tasks, but keep wondering how you would be able to enhance current
processes
in such a way that as many people as possible will benefit from your
suggestions. Above all: make sure that when you come up with these
suggestions, you have thought them through in detail, listed their
pro’s and
cons, and most importantly, explained how they will serve co-workers as
well
as the organization in total.
6. Don’t get discouraged. When an idea that you know to be valuable
does not
get accepted, there may be more behind the decline than you may see
from
your point of view. You can either keep your idea in the drawer for a
while
and apply point 3 above: analyzing the possible reasons for the
decline; or
you may modify your proposal in a way that it better pleases the ones
who
criticized it in the first place, yet without being detrimental to its
applicability.
7. Remember the ones who have been good to you. Too often we have a
propensity to forget the good that has been done to us once we said our
thank you’s. But imagine how good it will feel to the ones that awarded
you
at one time, when they find that you have not discarded the memory of
their
good deed, even when they themselves did! And imagine how great it
would
feel if this would be done to you when you did something good to
someone!
8. Involve others. If you are the one in a decision making position,
you
should still consider the tremendous importance of the 4p’s as I once
read
them in a management book by Bridges: Tell them the Purpose, share with
them
the Plan; keep them updated on the Progress; and most importantly: give
them
a Part To Play. That’s the guarantee for success in any project.
At
another
level, involving others is vital when you are confronted with an issue
of
which you are not sure what to do with it. Remember: you only have your
perception. A remark made to- or about you, or a decision taken might
not
have been meant the way you took it. Before jumping to conclusions and
undertaking harsh actions, run the issue by some people in the
organization
you trust. They may enlighten you.
9. Develop your own style in dealing with others. It’s good to apply
some of
the good things you see in the approach of colleagues; but don’t be a
mindless copycat. You have your own personality, and thus, your own
personal
leadership style. Besides, it’s easy for anyone you deal with to detect
whether you sincerely believe in your approach, or whether you are just
forcing yourself in a pattern that is not yours at all.
10. Don’t disparage any task performed by anybody. Rather: be ready to
assist when and where you can, no matter how prestigious your own
position.
It’s this one unforgettable flexibility trait that will win others’
hearts
for you. They will realize that you respect their contribution to the
organization, feel motivated toward what they are doing, and stand up
for
you whenever you need that. After all, one never knows.
About The Author: Joan Marques, holds an MBA, is a doctoral candidate in Organizational
Leadership, and a university instructor in Business and Management in
Burbank, California. You may visit her web site at
www.joanmarques.com
