Career progression - What does it take?
There is no magic about being happy in work but there are certain standards of behaviour to assist in creating an environment more conducive to happiness, to personal success and to career progression.
Employees can only enjoy work by adopting a professional approach in all they do and by striving for professionalism in every aspect of the job and in their dealings with others. This entails having self respect, respect for fellow workers, respect for the company, respect for clients, and respect for the quality of the work they do. Employees should give and should be expected to give 100% in each and every task associated with their position.
Take away respect and there is nothing left. Employees may have all the skills in the world but without respect that is worth nothing. It is the responsibility of management to lead and direct employees in order to ensure their development but it is the responsibility of the employee to be a willing worker, a willing learner and a responsible and enthusiastic person. Employees must be prepared to allow others to mould them and employers must be willing to do the moulding by training and developing employees.
It is important for employees to understand their role in the company, to know where they fit in and at the same time to learn about the core business of the company. This way they can strive for excellence and accept responsibility for their own career.
Here is an exercise you might like to have your employees complete: ask your employees to think about their current position in the company by considering the following
• Why do you go to work each day?
• What does your work and responsibilities at work mean to you?
• What is the most exciting aspect of your job?
• If you could change anything you currently do, what would it be?
• What are your current ambitions?
• What can you contribute to the success of your company?
• What have you contributed so far?
When they have considered these questions get them to complete the following exercise:
Consider your present position. Would you say you are performing as well as you should be?
List all of your personal strengths and weaknesses.
How do your strengths assist you and how do your weaknesses hold you back?
What can you change, why would you change it and do you want to change?
Draw up a written personal development plan to assist in making you perform better to ensure you will be a good role model for others
In order to progress and excel in their careers it is imperative employees get to know themselves and how they relate and interact with others. Working with and interacting with others will lead to differences of opinion and even conflict. It is how they deal with such conflict that determines the sort of person they are.
Conflict can be destructive or it can be constructive. Encourage others not to shy away from conflict but rather embrace it, learn from it and use it as a building block to self development. Conflict is an opportunity to express a point of view and above all it is an opportunity to listen and learn from others. Being a member of a team, employees can only be effective if they can interact constructively with others.
“No man is an island” – it is impossible to work in any environment without interacting with others. This must be done constructively.
Des Squire is the Managing Member of AMSI and ASSOCIATES
Des may be contacted on 082 800 9057 or des@amsiandassociates.co.za
Employees can only enjoy work by adopting a professional approach in all they do and by striving for professionalism in every aspect of the job and in their dealings with others. This entails having self respect, respect for fellow workers, respect for the company, respect for clients, and respect for the quality of the work they do. Employees should give and should be expected to give 100% in each and every task associated with their position.
Take away respect and there is nothing left. Employees may have all the skills in the world but without respect that is worth nothing. It is the responsibility of management to lead and direct employees in order to ensure their development but it is the responsibility of the employee to be a willing worker, a willing learner and a responsible and enthusiastic person. Employees must be prepared to allow others to mould them and employers must be willing to do the moulding by training and developing employees.
It is important for employees to understand their role in the company, to know where they fit in and at the same time to learn about the core business of the company. This way they can strive for excellence and accept responsibility for their own career.
Here is an exercise you might like to have your employees complete: ask your employees to think about their current position in the company by considering the following
• Why do you go to work each day?
• What does your work and responsibilities at work mean to you?
• What is the most exciting aspect of your job?
• If you could change anything you currently do, what would it be?
• What are your current ambitions?
• What can you contribute to the success of your company?
• What have you contributed so far?
When they have considered these questions get them to complete the following exercise:
Consider your present position. Would you say you are performing as well as you should be?
List all of your personal strengths and weaknesses.
How do your strengths assist you and how do your weaknesses hold you back?
What can you change, why would you change it and do you want to change?
Draw up a written personal development plan to assist in making you perform better to ensure you will be a good role model for others
In order to progress and excel in their careers it is imperative employees get to know themselves and how they relate and interact with others. Working with and interacting with others will lead to differences of opinion and even conflict. It is how they deal with such conflict that determines the sort of person they are.
Conflict can be destructive or it can be constructive. Encourage others not to shy away from conflict but rather embrace it, learn from it and use it as a building block to self development. Conflict is an opportunity to express a point of view and above all it is an opportunity to listen and learn from others. Being a member of a team, employees can only be effective if they can interact constructively with others.
“No man is an island” – it is impossible to work in any environment without interacting with others. This must be done constructively.
Des Squire is the Managing Member of AMSI and ASSOCIATES
Des may be contacted on 082 800 9057 or des@amsiandassociates.co.za
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Moses M. Shawe on -
Hi Des,
I do not have many words to support what you have stated, except to say that , it starts with you and it ends with you. If one can firstly start by respecting himself/herself and to respect others becomes natural. People have the tendency of responding to their names because they are familiar with that sound that is associated with their names but without knowing exactly who they really are.
Regards
Moses
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ContributorPermalink Reply by Des Squire on -
Hi Moses
I love your thought process and invite you and all readers to consider themselve as follows.
You are a business called "Moses (yourself) (Pty) Ltd". Write a very brief profile of your company - i.e. of yourself. Now ask yourself - what is the product I have to sell? Who will I be selling it to? How will I market my product? What value can i place on my business? How much will I market my product for? Can I increase the value of my product? How will I increase this value - what must I do?
Moses M. Shawe said:Hi Des,
I do not have many words to support what you have stated, except to say that , it starts with you and it ends with you. If one can firstly start by respecting himself/herself and to respect others becomes natural. People have the tendency of responding to their names because they are familiar with that sound that is associated with their names but without knowing exactly who they really are.
Regards
Moses
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Permalink Reply by Joan du Plessis on -
You have put this so succintly and captured the essence of what it is about. Have posted links to this on my LinkedIn account. Super, Des!
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ContributorPermalink Reply by Des Squire on -
Thanks Joan, I appreciate the comments and the thought. Stay well.
Joan du Plessis said:You have put this so succintly and captured the essence of what it is about. Have posted links to this on my LinkedIn account. Super, Des!
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on -
I love this. It confirms once again that power lies within each of us. And for as long as we see the conflict as constructive and when dealing with it- do so responsible and professionally and of course respect (you said it, without it- there's nothing there... nada)- it's just an opportunity to grow = master assertiveness, listening skills i.e. effective conflict management.
Thank you.
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ContributorPermalink Reply by Des Squire on -
Hi Amanda. Conflict in life is essential and makes us better people. Today, conflict is viewed differently. Organisational experts tell us that conflict is normal and natural. It is viewed as an interpersonal dynamic that when handled well can at least be managed, often resolved, and potentially has very creative results. It is critical we recognise the importance of dealing with conflict rather than adopting the traditional response of avoiding it.
The differences between people stimulate debate, creativity, solutions to problems and change. Too little conflict could result in an organisation stagnating. Too much could result in chaos. What is required is a healthy approach to dealing with conflict. Dealing with conflict is what is important as you correctly say.
However so much conflict can be avoided if we can learn to
Understand that others have a right to express opinions without being told they are wrong
Listen carefull to what people say and hear what they are saying and not what we think they are saying
When in doubt we need to politely and respectfully seek clarification
When dealing with managers and/supervisors we need to be aware of these and apply them
Unfortunately I see too many people who have lost the meanng of respect, who fail to show respect and worst of all have no respect for themselves - they continually let themselves down.
Amanda said:I love this. It confirms once again that power lies within each of us. And for as long as we see the conflict as constructive and when dealing with it- do so responsible and professionally and of course respect (you said it, without it- there's nothing there... nada)- it's just an opportunity to grow = master assertiveness, listening skills i.e. effective conflict management.
Thank you.
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Permalink Reply by Tania Brown on -
Definitely as my mother always say respect goes a long way but like you nicely stated Des that people no longer respect others and in turn that mean not respecting themselves. And when there is conflict in the workplace which someone mentioned is natural its only how the way the conflict is handled that makes the different it can leave you feeling worthy, respected and empoyed or it can leave you feeling belittled, disgrunted and down right lead to unhappiness in the work place.
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Permalink Reply by Nombuso on
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Professionalism is the key of respect at work. A person who acts professionaly at work without considerring who is she or he is dealing with at that time. Some employees just think that to be rude is the way to make other employees to respect or fear them and yet in order to for person to be respected he or she must respect others. It is worse with an employee who doesn't want to secrifice at work and expect to be given opportunities for development. How can you develop somebody who won't be of good help for the company, some they are not even willing to learn more skills, if they are give chance to learn more skills they feel they are abused.
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Permalink Reply by Sean Bowes on -
Hi Des
What a great article? I am going to use this for my employees and myself. Thanks again.
Sean
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Permalink Reply by Salome Portia Malowa on -
i agree with all of you, respect start from within and when one does not respect others it means she/he does not respect him/herself. In workplce subordinates feels they owe it to the managers to respect them or its a favour if they show little respect to them. i am talking from experience, people have attitude that influence the way they communiate and relate to others.
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ContributorPermalink Reply by Des Squire on -
Thank you Sean - glad you found the article of benefit. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Sean Bowes said:Hi Des
What a great article? I am going to use this for my employees and myself. Thanks again.
Sean
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ContributorPermalink Reply by Des Squire on -
Hi Portia
Respet is something we earn whether we are managers or simple employees. It's such a pity that some individuals feeel that respect is an entitlement. We all have a need to examine or attitudes, the way we speak to others and how we go about our daily tasks and then ask - Have I earned respect today?
Portia said:i agree with all of you, respect start from within and when one does not respect others it means she/he does not respect him/herself. In workplce subordinates feels they owe it to the managers to respect them or its a favour if they show little respect to them. i am talking from experience, people have attitude that influence the way they communiate and relate to others.
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