You were likely taught at least some lessons about humility, manners, work ethic, and kindness throughout your life from parents, teachers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and society in general. But have you actually applied those lessons in everyday life as well as you could?
The good news is that you have the power to change that right now. This is the perfect time to choose the person you want to be and give yourself that clean slate by embracing these daily life lessons and the HMWK mindset as you enter the workplace.
Practice the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have done unto you. This simple thought is the foundation for all gracious behavior.
Recognize that you are 100% accountable for your actions. The blame game is not acceptable in a work setting. You are a grown-up, not an adult child. Take ownership of your mistakes by apologizing for them, learning from them, and not repeating them. You will be respected by your colleagues and boss for doing so.
Acknowledge that you are not the center of the universe. Almost nothing in the workplace will ever be solely about you. Check your ego at the door, and appreciate the opportunity you’ve been afforded.
Accept the fact that you are at the bottom of the organizational chart and be thankful you’re even on the chart. Even the valedictorian of the most prestigious college in the United States will probably start at the bottom in a new job. It is where you belong right now! But, of course, that will change with your effort.
Pay your dues with honor and grace. The idea that you can skip the hard work and garner quick payoffs is a fantasy. It’s going to take a long time, but the hard work will pay off.
Listen more than you talk. Gathering good information by actively listening to others will result in better, more thoughtful processing and decision-making, and it will also go a long way to building relationships with others.
Commit to self-improvement every day. Be honest with yourself about your strengths and areas for improvement. If you’re not sure what they are, ask someone who will tell you honestly and consider that knowledge a gift that you can use to improve yourself.
Emulate the behavior of people whom you truly respect. You will know very quickly who those people are by how they act in the office with coworkers, not by their contribution to the bottom line.
Maintain a positive mental attitude every day. The power of a positive attitude cannot be overstated! Your optimism, persistence, and self-belief will help you influence outcomes. Also, a positive mental attitude is infectious and a magnet in the workplace for others to want to be around you and work with you.
Final Thoughts
These key life lessons are so basic, aren’t they? Yet each one takes thought and effort to put into practice. Yes, there will be days when you may not feel like following them, days when you forget, and even days when you do just the opposite. I know this from many years of my own experience.
Do your best each day to turn these lessons into habits. Over time, you’ll discover that they not only apply to the workplace but are just as valuable in your personal life.
Very truly yours,
Aunt Anna
