What’s one thing employees could think about doing differently at work? Please share how doing this one thing can help employees demonstrate their willingness to learn, improve, and better fit the company’s culture and goals.
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1. Complete Meaningful Work
Over my last 15 years running a digital marketing agency, one of the biggest things I’ve noticed is employees focusing on staying busy rather than completing meaningful work. Completing meaningful work that moves the needle for the agency or our clients is the number one priority. There’s still an old-school mentality that the way to impress the boss is to camp out at the office: arrive early, stay late. In today’s virtual environment, it’s become increasingly obvious that what’s really important, and what’s always been important, is the completion of meaningful work.
Staying busy isn’t important; meeting and exceeding business objectives, focusing on “done” instead of “due,” is what matters.
– Eric McGehearty, Globe Runner
2. Time Management
Many employees get comfortable doing the bare minimum and wait to be told what needs to be done and what’s expected of them. An area of improvement an employer would appreciate (and its usefulness applies to any business type and industry) is time management. The better people can manage their time, the more efficient they are at meeting deadlines, multitasking and overall productivity. This might involve creating to-do lists, using free scheduling software or managing a daily or weekly schedule closely.
Many successful individuals use the evenings to map out the next day ahead of time. They list out the most important tasks that must be completed first, and then account for everything else. This allows them to start the day with a purpose and, oftentimes, complete the high-priority tasks before anyone else even gets to the office. When colleagues drop in with questions, meetings come up, and emails need attended to, they can rest easy knowing the big tasks are done for the day.
Keeping track of how you spend your time and optimizing for your priorities and goals is very empowering – and much appreciated by employers. It shows a willingness to chase improvement and become someone capable of achieving big goals and taking on even greater responsibility.
– Blair Thomas, eMerchantBroker
3. Focus on the Why
Instead of focusing on the “what,” employees should focus on the “why” and the “how.” “Why is my contribution important?” “How will my contributions help the greater organization achieve its end goal(s)?” This “big picture” approach enables employees to see how their day-to-day functions help drive the business forward.
Employees who regard their roles as essential tend to be more invested, more productive and more willing to contribute ideas or actions beyond the scope of their role. These employees also tend to achieve greater job satisfaction.
– Samuel Saxton, ConsumerRating.org
4. Take Ownership
Employees should consider taking full ownership of their projects and responsibilities. This means independently managing tasks, seeking out resources, and anticipating potential challenges. However, this level of independence can be challenging and doesn’t come naturally to everyone. It requires confidence, initiative, and sometimes stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
Despite these challenges, embracing this mindset fosters accountability, encourages continuous learning and improvement, and aligns individual goals with the company’s objectives. It’s something we value very heavily at our firm.
5. Seek Feedback
One thing to do differently at work is to seek feedback and act on it. Rather than waiting for annual reviews, ask your manager and colleagues for constructive feedback on specific projects or tasks. By seeking out this feedback, you’re showing you want to learn and improve, which is a desirable trait in any business.
I believe acting on that feedback proves you’re not just listening but committed to personal and professional growth. This proactive approach will almost certainly lead to career progression and job happiness, especially if you’re consistent.
– Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
6. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Employees generally avoid taking ownership of difficult tasks or deliverables that require them to step out of their comfort zone. They always prefer doing what they do best and avoid confronting challenges at work.
Stepping out of your comfort zone helps you grow and enables you to add more skill to your arsenal. It shows that you are willing to learn and become a better cultural fit for the company. It also helps fulfill your career aspirations and makes it easier for you to grow.
7. Collaborate Across Departments
One thing employees could do differently at work is to proactively seek opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration. By working with colleagues in different areas, employees can learn new skills, gain a broader understanding of the business, and show their willingness to learn and adapt. For example, a marketing employee collaborating with the product team on a new launch brings fresh perspectives and learns about product development.
This initiative demonstrates their commitment to the company’s success and alignment with its culture and goals, fostering personal growth and stronger teamwork.
– Michelle Aran, Velvet Caviar
8. Stay Curious
One thing employees could do differently at work is to stay curious. Embrace change and growth without expecting immediate rewards for every minor tweak in responsibilities or workflow. Understand that no job stays the same every day.
By being open to learning and adapting, you show your willingness to improve and fit better with the company’s culture and goals. This mindset not only helps you grow but also demonstrates your commitment to the company’s success, making you a valuable team member.
– Travis Schreiber, Erase Technologies, LLC
9. Embrace Constructive Criticism
One thing employees generally avoid, which they shouldn’t and consider taking a different approach, is seeking feedback at work from peers and supervisors. They should actively ask colleagues and managers for constructive criticism and guidance regarding identifying room for improvement.
This showcases their willingness to learn, improve, and be a better fit for the company’s culture. Implementing the feedback you get from others thoughtfully helps you overcome your weaknesses and grow your skills. It demonstrates your commitment and shows that you are willing to go the extra mile to keep the needle moving.
– Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
10. Learn New Skills
One thing that can make a real difference to demonstrate your willingness to learn and improve is to constantly seek new challenges. From a manager’s point of view, cross-training employees to learn new skills can be valuable to the company. However, employees can be proactive and ask to take on challenges outside their skill set or comfort zone. Learning always has value, whether you use what you know at this job, a future job, or at some other point in your life.
When opportunities don’t come up at work, you can still use your free time to read, take an online course, or sign up for a class or seminar in your area.