Make Yourself a Valuable Employee

In a competitive work environment, the best way to stand out is to make yourself a valued employee. While education level and technical skills may have helped land the job, it’s those skills along with the right work ethic and attitude that will set you apart.

Reliability is Key

It is difficult to keep a job that you’re not willing to show up for. But there is so much more to it than simply being physically present. Arriving to work on time and consistently meeting deadlines demonstrates respect for your employer and colleagues. It’s likely that others are waiting to complete tasks that depend on you completing your work. Demonstrating good time management will be appreciated and will contribute to overall timeliness.

Take ownership of your tasks and complete them to a high standard, on time, and without requiring constant supervision. And show your preparedness by arriving at work and meetings ready to contribute, having reviewed necessary information beforehand. This type of dependability and self-management will be noticed.

A Valued Employee Takes Initiative

Knowing your company’s culture and goals will help you step up to contribute proactively. The ability to identify potential challenges and initiate ways to avoid or meet them head-on is a valuable skill.

Always be on the lookout for learning opportunities. Actively seek training, workshops, or online courses to expand your skillset and knowledge base. The more you know, the more you can put into practice, the more you can do!

Embrace Change

The one thing that is always consistent in any successful business, especially with continuing technological advances, is change. The ability to adjust, pivot, and grow with changing processes and new skills will serve you well.

As will your acceptance of feedback. Whether that feedback comes directly from a superior or colleague, or when it comes via reactions from customers or clients, the way in which you process feedback and use it to improve a situation or product, or to get things back on track, will show your flexibility and commitment to excellence.

A Valued Employee is an Etiquette-ful Employee

To make yourself a valued employee, you must demonstrate value. While the practices above are important, they feed into one foundational quality: etiquette. An etiquette-ful employee recognizes and practices the skills necessary to foster a positive, productive work environment.

Enthusiasm: Show genuine interest in your work and a willingness to take on new challenges.
Positivity: Maintain a positive and optimistic outlook, even during challenging situations.
Teamwork: Be a collaborative player and willing to assist colleagues whenever possible, contributing to a positive and supportive work environment.
Clarity: Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing, to avoid misunderstandings.
Active listening: Pay close attention to instructions and feedback, and ask clarifying questions when needed.
Professionalism: Maintain a professional tone and demeanor in all your communications and interactions.

By consistently demonstrating these qualities, you will make yourself a valuable employee, colleague, and asset to your workplace, increasing your job satisfaction and career advancement opportunities. Understand that being a valued employee is a continuous journey, requiring dedication, effort, and a willingness to learn and grow. But the return on this investment will be well worth your effort.