This chapter looks at those issues that lead to success in the workplace and improve productivity. It also discusses important health and safety issues.
Defining good Work Habits
People who develop good work habits tend to be more successful in their careers than those with poor work habits. good work habits help to develop and improve skills that are important for improving an individual’s productivity and job performance.
Procrastination is the act of replacing high- priority tasks with low-priority tasks, and thereby putting off important tasks to a later time. The leading cause of poor productivity is procrastination. People tend to procrastinate for many reasons. Some of the reasons for procrastination are listed here:
● The task is unpleasant.
● The task is overwhelming.
● The task may lead to negative consequences.
Techniques to help reduce procrastination include these:
● Determine the cost of procrastination.
● Attack the burdensome task.
● Nibble away on an overwhelming task.
Developing good work habits is a matter of devel- oping proper attitudes and values toward work. To be successful at work:
● Develop a mission, goals, and a strong work ethic.
● Have good attendance and be punctual.
● Value time by staying on task.
● Operate with neatness, orderliness, and speed.
● Work smarter, not harder.
● Appreciate the importance of rest and relaxation after the task is complete.
Techniques to help become more productive in- clude the following:
● Keep workspace clean and organized.
● Master and make good use of technology.
● Focus on one task at a time.
● Streamline and emphasize important tasks.
● Create quiet uninterrupted time for planning.
● Stay in control of paperwork and e-mail.
Here are some suggestions for overcoming wasting time:
● Minimize daydreaming.
● Prepare a time log to evaluate time usage.
● Avoid being a cyber-loafer.
● Set a time limit for each task.
● Schedule doing similar tasks together.
● Become decisive and finish things in a timely manner.
Work habits that help produce results on a job include these:
● Volunteer for assignments.
● Be nice to people.
● Prioritize work.
● Stay positive.
● Do not just identify a problem, but also supply a solution.
Questions
1. What are the signs of a successful person?
2. Why is procrastination not wanted in the workplace?
3. Identify three good work habits.
4. Identify three techniques to increase productivity.
5. Identify three work habits that produce results.