One man once said to me "it is easy to obtain but sometimes hard to maintain". I never read much into this statement until I observed how people behave in the workplace. They paint a certain picture during the interviews such that the panel "falls in love" at first sight.
Some people are only impressive while trying to sell themselves. Once "sold", once they obtain the job, they become very poor at ensuring they keep the job. I have a number of former workmates who are now either in management positions or in some cases they now own their businesses as Founder and CEO.
In my observations, listening to the cry of these managers, people neglect themselves and become comfortable too soon after getting the job. What they fail to realize is that the employee requires performance not merely someone who shows up for work with no tangible evidence of the reason the person is employed.
People get suspended, sacked and they receive warnings of poor performance. I also marvel at some older people I get to meet who mention that they have been with the company for forty years; some even get into retirement having worked for just one employer
How then does one keep their job?
1. Understand the scope of your job and the expectations - a job title sometimes does not communicate in total what you are responsible for you. Always insist on getting a job specification in writing. If expectations are reduced to ink, then you are better able to achieve them than when they are hazy. Be a master of your own discipline by asking for this kind of valuable information.
2. Adhere to set code of conduct - Every organization should have a set code of conduct which details how employees dress, what is done to them if they don't come to work on time and so on. A code of conduct governs your behavior in the work place.
3. Know when you are in or under authority - May people fail to realize that with each job comes authority. They however fail to realize how far their authority goes. At any given time you are either in charge or you are submitting to someone else. You are not always in charge.
4. Be honest and transparent - Honesty is one lacking attribute that causes people to lose jobs. I can recount that I dismissed people who were very excellent in the work, very productive indeed but they violated honesty. They started cheating, bribing and performing shortcuts in business.
5. Have the correct attitudes - People lose job because they develop attitudes that are sour. Grumpy, complaining, frowning employees rarely keep their jobs. I wonder how some people who cannot smile end up in with customer services position where they handle client queries.
6. Performance and results - This is related to one's ability to do the work and deliver results. You are not employed for anything else other than achievement of results. Results can be measured in volume, quantities, quality, revenue, efficiencies and so on.
7. Work with the team - Team players keep their jobs. Your ability to influence others to perform of achieve can even cover up for your weaknesses. If you play it alone, you will soon be exposed and found wanting.
8. Be loyal to your brand and business - Loyalty means you are sold out to the business or product you are trading in. I am appalled by people who trade in a specific type of car and yet driving another type of car. Just ask yourself what you will be communicating. People have lost trust as their loyalty got to the test hence jobs were lost in the process.
9. Keep confidence - People play with confidential information and get sacked instantly. A piece of information in the wrong hands can bring a business down. Jobs such as payroll administrator etc call for someone who has integrity of heart and one who does not unnecessarily volunteer information they have access to.
10. Be willing to be corrected and keep learning - This is tied closely to attitude. An employee who does not learn from mistakes is not necessary. In the workplace, it is guarantee that you will not always know everything that you do. People will not sharpen you if you refuse to be corrected or you easily take offense. A worker who learns from mistakes usually keeps their job longer.
By : Rabison_Shumba
Some people are only impressive while trying to sell themselves. Once "sold", once they obtain the job, they become very poor at ensuring they keep the job. I have a number of former workmates who are now either in management positions or in some cases they now own their businesses as Founder and CEO.
In my observations, listening to the cry of these managers, people neglect themselves and become comfortable too soon after getting the job. What they fail to realize is that the employee requires performance not merely someone who shows up for work with no tangible evidence of the reason the person is employed.
People get suspended, sacked and they receive warnings of poor performance. I also marvel at some older people I get to meet who mention that they have been with the company for forty years; some even get into retirement having worked for just one employer
How then does one keep their job?
1. Understand the scope of your job and the expectations - a job title sometimes does not communicate in total what you are responsible for you. Always insist on getting a job specification in writing. If expectations are reduced to ink, then you are better able to achieve them than when they are hazy. Be a master of your own discipline by asking for this kind of valuable information.
2. Adhere to set code of conduct - Every organization should have a set code of conduct which details how employees dress, what is done to them if they don't come to work on time and so on. A code of conduct governs your behavior in the work place.
3. Know when you are in or under authority - May people fail to realize that with each job comes authority. They however fail to realize how far their authority goes. At any given time you are either in charge or you are submitting to someone else. You are not always in charge.
4. Be honest and transparent - Honesty is one lacking attribute that causes people to lose jobs. I can recount that I dismissed people who were very excellent in the work, very productive indeed but they violated honesty. They started cheating, bribing and performing shortcuts in business.
5. Have the correct attitudes - People lose job because they develop attitudes that are sour. Grumpy, complaining, frowning employees rarely keep their jobs. I wonder how some people who cannot smile end up in with customer services position where they handle client queries.
6. Performance and results - This is related to one's ability to do the work and deliver results. You are not employed for anything else other than achievement of results. Results can be measured in volume, quantities, quality, revenue, efficiencies and so on.
7. Work with the team - Team players keep their jobs. Your ability to influence others to perform of achieve can even cover up for your weaknesses. If you play it alone, you will soon be exposed and found wanting.
8. Be loyal to your brand and business - Loyalty means you are sold out to the business or product you are trading in. I am appalled by people who trade in a specific type of car and yet driving another type of car. Just ask yourself what you will be communicating. People have lost trust as their loyalty got to the test hence jobs were lost in the process.
9. Keep confidence - People play with confidential information and get sacked instantly. A piece of information in the wrong hands can bring a business down. Jobs such as payroll administrator etc call for someone who has integrity of heart and one who does not unnecessarily volunteer information they have access to.
10. Be willing to be corrected and keep learning - This is tied closely to attitude. An employee who does not learn from mistakes is not necessary. In the workplace, it is guarantee that you will not always know everything that you do. People will not sharpen you if you refuse to be corrected or you easily take offense. A worker who learns from mistakes usually keeps their job longer.
By : Rabison_Shumba
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