How to Become the Best at What You Do
Make a conscious effort to be the best at what you do!
Do you sit back and wait for a monthly or annual performance review to think about your work performance? Do you wait for another person to tell you about how you can improve yourself?
The trick to becoming the best at what you do without waiting for feedback is to work on yourself, not the job. Your work reflects you, so begin by making yourself better, and success will follow.
Here are 9 ways to help you get better at what you do and become the best version of yourself;
1. Turn weaknesses into strengths
Research shows that 97 % of people can readily identify a career-limiting habit they have. However, managers reported that only 10 % of employees showed a change a year after a performance review. Most of us assess our weaknesses but don’t always take steps to rectify our career-limiting behaviours.
- Identify moments of anxiety and pay attention to them.
- When you’re in such a moment, stay with it.
- Then, recognize what you can do instead.
2. Set goals and track them
Setting goals for yourself doesn’t just give you a sense of purpose in life but also makes you accountable for your decisions and actions.
To set realistic goals, follow this 4-step process:
- Figure out what you want to accomplish in a day, a week, and a year. If possible, write it down somewhere or keep a digital diary. Keep your goals SMART and focused. The key is to avoid setting too many goals for yourself.
- Prioritize your goals and focus on the most critical ones first.
- Motivate yourself to stick to the plan.
- Finally, make sure you track your goals religiously.
There’s no point in setting goals if you don’t follow through with it. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, figure out simple motivational moves to get yourself to implement your plan of action.
3. Find opportunities to learn
Learning should always be a top priority while factoring in your day-to-day activities. Spare 10 minutes each day to read, listen or watch something that can help you work more efficiently. You can try to learn a new skill every month, a new way of doing things, or, see if you can learn something from your colleagues.
4. Believe in the power of asking questions
Don’t be afraid to ask the questions that matter at work. Asking the right questions can impact the outcomes of your decisions. It shows that you are present and participative. So don’t hold back those questions; ask away!
5. Don’t ignore your health
If your work demands your constant and undivided attention, you could feel overwhelmed and feel like most of your worth resides in your work.
Remember, a job is just a job. Refocus your attention and think about what matters to you. Re-prioritize your work-life and find ways to get help without burning out. You can reach out to colleagues for help with work, take vacations regularly and most importantly, look after your body.
Get a good night’s sleep and avoid spending the wee hours of the night on a work email. Make sure you’re physically, mentally and emotionally fit to avoid getting addicted to working.
6. Dig critical or negative feedback
While receiving negative feedback can be a hard skill to master, it is a vital component to advancing your career. The key to dealing with negative or harsh feedback is to emotionally detach from the information and then take action. Avoid being reactive and pause while you’re in the moment. Later, break down the feedback into specifics. For instance, feedback such as, “Your presentation lacked conviction” should be rephrased as, “I can become more convincing.”
7. Don’t multitask
Did you know doing several things at once can decrease your productivity by about 40 %? Research shows that most multitasking is unproductive because we don’t multitask. We switch-tasks rapidly, making us more distracted and less focused. So, stop the loop of constantly interrupting yourself. Tackle one task at a time because you don’t lose anything by not multitasking!
8. Avoid distraction
The average person is distracted or interrupted every 40 seconds when working in front of their computer. We can’t even work for a full minute without getting distracted!
To get better at the work you do, find simple ways to overcome everyday self-sabotaging practices. If you’re having a hard time getting some data sorted, leave the work for some time and take a walk. Or, move to a different space.
Similarly, put your phone face-down so you don’t get distracted with constant notifications. Make room for some solitude in your workday so you don’t feel stressed or overwhelmed by your small losses.
9. Don’t overcommit
Before you take on additional work, pause and check if you’re able to take on that work. Learn to say ‘no’ at work more frequently, delegate the work to your team members if possible, and don’t shy away from asking for help, when it’s needed. Before you take on a project, map out what you know and make an estimate of the time you’d need to complete the task.
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Culled from: Ascend.