How to Be a Better Employee

How to Be a Better Employee Image via Pexels Many of us look to the New Year hoping to become a better version of ourselves. To that end, we make resolutions that, for better or worse, we do our best to keep. Keeping up a resolution, whether college student or not, can be difficult with so many things already on our plate. Our work lives are one place that probably easily qualifies as a place to improve. Whether you have a full-time job off-campus or a part-time campus job, reward is very simply given out through promotions, raises, and positive evaluations for good work and notable qualities such as attitude and cooperation. While it does take a good manager to make a company go, it also takes good workers. The best staff I have worked alongside and the best people I have managed are those who work hard, produce good work, and maintain a positive attitude. And sometimes a resolution helps with that. Andy Teach, author of the book  From Graduation to Corporation,  writes, “No one has a perfect work life and there is always room for improvement. Most people aspire to be better at their jobs because it results in increased happiness and personal satisfaction.” Who doesn’t want more happiness and satisfaction on the inside? So, in the spirit of the New Year that is just around the corner, here are some ways in which you can become a better employee. 1. Get to know your manager. Some managers have a reputation for being cold and hard to get along with. What most managers really want is employees who care about them enough to get the job done right. In order to do this, you have to understand how your manager operates and the way in which he/she wants things done. And in order to understand this about your manager, you have to get to know him. If you can’t figure out what he needs, ask what he needs you to do and how it should be done and then go and do it. The more you communicate with your manager up-front, the easier it will be for you to complete objectives and meet deadlines. Managers don’t normally hang out with employees, but you do need to hang around him or her long enough to know what they want and how they want it done. Remember, it is their company and in order to maintain a good working relationship, things must be done their way. 2. Meet or beat established deadlines. This is one that I struggle with at times, but the key to actually doing it consistently is managing time well. When your manager gives you an assignment with a deadline, it is best if you work on it right away if you can and complete it as soon as possible. Don’t take it with an ‘I’ll see what I can do’ or ‘I’ll take a look at it soon’ kind of attitude. Your manager may not verbalize it, but he wants his work done either right now or as quickly as possible. Once you set a deadline, strive to deliver ahead of time. Rather than stressing and sweating at the last minute, doing things on time or ahead of time gives you and your manager space to deal with any unforeseen problems that may arise. Also, there are two unwritten rules in business. First, usually, managers give themselves time beyond the time they give their employees to finish projects. So if your manager says, ‘I need this done by Wednesday’ and it’s Monday, most likely he needs to deliver it to a customer by Friday. He is giving himself space for any problems to arise too such as employees not getting said project done on time. Second, the employee who is always on time or ahead of time becomes the manager’s go-to person when something needs to be done in a shorter space of time. 3. Take initiative.   It may sound harsh, but your manager does not want to spoon-feed you or micro-manage you. Most managers are willing to train, coach, and even mentor their employees but after the first couple of weeks, to be an effective employee, you will need to take an interest in the company and in the work so much so that you will begin to work on your own. Try to avoid taking every single problem you encounter to your boss. If you absolutely don’t know how to use the printer or can’t find the stapler, ask a fellow colleague. Save time with your boss for higher level matters that require you to think and prove your ability to handle complex tasks. 4. Be honest about what you need. You may have done a good deal of negotiating to land your dream job, whether it is permanent or temporary, but developing negotiation skills don’t end at that point. Managers love good communicators and in order to be one, you have to be honest about what you need to do your job. It doesn’t matter whether it is supplies, more information, additional time, or more hands on deck. Asking direct questions and being thoughtful about your work will encourage your manager and show him that you are on the ball. 5. Keep your word. If you say you’re going to do something, make sure you do it. Try to avoid making excuses about not having work done because when work does not get done, it sets the entire team back, makes customers complain, and might make your co-workers complain to the boys about you. Holding yourself accountable for your actions and keeping your commitments is not only a matter of personal pride, but will be remembered by your employer. Managers want to work alongside people they can depend on no matter what. Your manager has a difficult job to do already. Just the pressure of being in charge and having others dependent on you to make it happen is not always obvious to employees. I hope these tips will help you become a better, more effective employee and to win you over to the management team.