How to Be a Better Employee! Six Simple Tips

Why should you want to be a better employee? Well, maybe you would like a promotion, a raise or just your own office? Would you like to gain self respect as well as the respect of your peers or your supervisors? You might even want to keep the job you have! You can, by paying attention to just a few simple things; things I learned by being an employee and later by owning my own business and having employees.

Be a better employee number 1 - Get to work on time!

Whatever time your work starts, or shift starts, be ready to work. If this means arriving 10 to 15 minutes earlier , then do it. Nothing is more frustrating to a boss than to have employees walk in the door at the exact time to start work and then take as much as 30 minutes to get orientated to produce.

Be a better employee number 2 - Dress appropriately!

Whatever attire is appropriate for your work, be clean and neat. I have had employees come to work wearing clothing that looked like they had spent the night sleeping in them. Casual clothing is accepted in most work places today, but, nothing says more about you than clean and pressed! If you do not use a cleaning service, use an iron. Pressed shirts and slacks command respect.

Be a better employee number 3 - Ask what your job responsibilities are!

If your position does not have a job description handbook, ask what your specific job duties are to be. Do not assume that you know them and let someone, possibly your supervisor or a co-worker explain just what is expected of you. Asking can eliminate possible confusion and difficulties on a new job. If at some point you become unaware of what to do next, notify the proper person and continue doing "something productive" until the next step is explained to you. Do not just sit and wait!

Be a better employee number 4 - Give at least 7 hours of productive work!

Very few people have the ability to give an employer eight full hours of productivity; the norm is about six hours. There are always interruptions, times of confusion, questions to be answered, phone calls, etc. that interfere with productivity. Many companies have additional seminars available to help establish work ethics for their employees. Take advantage of any and all available to you and your supervisors will notice and your productivity will increase. Time is money to a company. Not being a slacker will move you up the corporate ladder and will allow you to be home more often (on time) as productivity during the work day will eliminate the necessity for over-time work.

Be a better employee number 5 - Help others!

If you finish your designated work, offer to help someone else. Your assistance could be beneficial to someone under a tight dead-line and offers for assistance are always appreciated by co-workers.

Be a better employee number 6 - Leave personal at home!

While you are at work.....work! Leave personal messages, phone calls, making personal appointments, checking your e-mail, etc. to your break time or lunch time. Unless you must use a cell phone for business use, you might even turn your personal cell phone off. Check your messages during lunch and you will find that your productivity will increase dramatically. If you must take care of personal business that cannot wait until after work or on the weekend, ask for personal time off for those situations. I gladly gave my employees personal time off so that when they were at work they could work. Again, time is money to a company and it is important that each employee fulfill the designated job they were hired to do.

Benefits gained!

There are many obvious reasons why a person would want to be a better employee. Benefits will increase as productivity increases, meaning raises, promotions and personal self-esteem to name just a few. You might even start your own business..........