What Can Easily Get You into Trouble at Work – And What Can Make You Valuable?

Your career is shaped by more than your qualifications. Sometimes, it is your associations, attitude, adaptability, relationships and discretion.

The interesting thing is that the same five areas that can get you into trouble can also make you a highly valuable employee.

1, YOUR COLLEAGUES — CHOOSE YOUR ASSOCIATIONS WISELY

The wrong colleagues can pull you into gossip, indiscipline, workplace politics or misconduct.

But the right colleagues can help you learn, grow, collaborate and build a strong professional network.

Be friendly with everyone, but be careful about what you become involved in.

2. YOUR ATTITUDE — DEVELOP A POSITIVE WORK ETHIC

Constant lateness, excuses, poor commitment and doing only what you are forced to do can damage your reputation.

On the other hand, being dependable, responsible, solution-oriented and willing to take ownership can make you highly valued.

Don’t always ask, “What is my job?”

Sometimes ask, “What needs to be done, and how can I contribute?”

3. YOUR ABILITY TO LEARN — STAY RELEVANT

Technology, processes and job requirements are constantly changing.

An unwillingness to learn new skills can make you obsolete.

A willingness to learn, adapt and take on new responsibilities can make you increasingly useful to the organisation.

Your current job description should not become the limit of your capacity.

4. YOUR RELATIONSHIPS — LEARN TO WORK WITH PEOPLE

You may be technically brilliant and still be difficult to work with.

Poor communication, arrogance, inability to accept correction and constant conflict can isolate you.

Good interpersonal skills, teamwork, respect and emotional maturity can make people want to work with you.

You don’t have to like everybody. You have to learn to work professionally with people.

5. YOUR MOUTH — DEVELOP DISCRETION

Gossip, revealing confidential information and announcing every plan or ambition can easily damage your credibility.

Discretion, confidentiality and knowing when to speak—and when not to—can make you someone management and colleagues can trust.

Not everything you know needs to be shared.

And there is one factor that can accelerate all five:

A GOOD BOSS

A good boss teaches, coaches, corrects, delegates, challenges and creates opportunities for growth.

A good boss can see potential in an employee that the employee may not yet see in himself.

But remember:

A good boss can open the door. You still have to walk through it.

So ask yourself:

If I left this organisation tomorrow, what would they genuinely miss about me?

Your knowledge?

Your reliability?

Your problem-solving ability?

Your adaptability?

Your teamwork?

Your discretion?

Your willingness to help?

Because being employed is one thing. Being valuable is another.