GLC2O7 – Career Studies
Five Keys to Work Success
After successfully gaining employment – and even when you’re self-employed – the way you
approach your chosen career will often determine whether you are truly ‘successful’. The following
Five Keys to Work Success should be among your fundamental characteristics. These are not
career-specific, nor are they technical in nature; however they represent a positive, flexible and
productive mindset that has proven to be the winning combination for many successful people. To
help you remember them, simply think of the vowels A, E, I, O and U. As vowels are essential to
making words, these should be essential parts of your daily life and work routines.
Attitude:
The saying ‘Your Attitude determines your Altitude’ refers to how positively you approach your
daily challenges. If you feel tempted to look at (or for) the negative aspects of a situation, you’ll find
there are often plenty. A positive attitude, however, means looking for the good things; the ability to
bounce back from tough times. Team managers value such positive thinkers as much as they
avoid those employees who have a negative attitude – often called a ‘toxic attitude’ because of the
effect upon the team’s morale. Be sure to get a reputation as a positive thinker.
Enthusiasm:
How can you expect others to feel positive if you don’t? Enthusiasm means being excited about
what you’re doing and believing that your role adds value – whether it is at work or afterwards.
Make sure, though, you are truly enthusiastic – ‘false enthusiasm’ comes across as phony and will
be perceived as a negative. As with Attitude, it is contagious: employers know staff enjoy being
around enthusiastic employees, and often seek them to motivate teams.
Initiative:
With less supervision and more automation in the workplace, employers increasingly look for
initiative in their workers. Employers often ask questions at interviews to determine which
candidates will show initiative, and as this is often an indication of risk acceptance they may use
this as evidence of leadership potential. In short: Don’t wait to be asked. Act upon situations
proactively, rather than reactively.
Opportunity:
Competition among companies has never been greater, and employers are increasingly interested
in employees who can recognize - and seize – opportunities to gain business advantage.
Opportunity extends to your personal goal of being prepared to act upon opportunities that may
suddenly appear. Remember the ‘lattice’ concept: tomorrow’s opportunities may lie in other
companies. Education and networking are two key components in successfully taking advantage of
opportunities, for your employer….and yourself.
Understanding:
There are several aspects of Understanding: knowing your personal strengths, knowing your job
responsibilities, understanding your co-workers, and understanding business and economic trends.
This personal awareness of self, job, team and environment provides you with the tools to view
relationships within the ‘big picture’. Employers rely upon employees who can relate well with other
team members. This may involve personal, technical and communication skills – which are
stepping stones to leadership and advancement. Seek knowledge to understand more and you’ll
find greater confidence in your work.