Your Guide to Performing Your Absolute Best in the Workplace

Everyone wants to do well at work. At the end of the day, work is what our livelihoods are based on. It’s what puts a roof over our heads and meals on our table. It’s what affords us the luxuries in life. So, you’re going to want to make sure that you perform well in order to secure your job and secure your quality of life. But what can you do to make sure that you’re always performing your best? Whether you simply want to do well, are looking for a promotion, or are planning on asking for a pay rise soon, here are a few ideas that can help to boost your productivity and make you a more valuable employee.

The first thing you need to know in order to perform well at work is to know what’s actually expected of you. All too many employers fail to give their staff clear expectations, goals and KPIs, which means staff are regularly left wondering if they’re underperforming, which generates worry, concern and dissatisfaction. Make sure that you talk to your boss or manager to determine what they expect to see from you in your role. This will give you clarity and will allow you to start planning ways to hit these targets.

Once you know what is expected of you, you can start to think how you’re going to achieve this and prove yourself in the workplace. This means setting clear goals and milestones. The goal will be whatever is expected of you. It may be completing a project. It may be increasing a conversion rate. It may be implementing a process. The list of possibilities goes on. Once you know what your goal is, you can make it SMART. This means ensuring that it is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound. Then you can set milestones. What do you need to do by what date to get everything done in time?

Work-life balance has become a bit of a buzz term lately, but it’s important. At the end of the day, nobody’s entire life entirely revolves around their work - at least, this shouldn’t be the case. Having a life outside of work and dedicating time and effort to it is extremely important for your ongoing wellbeing - both mental and emotional. Make sure that you don’t allow your work to negatively impact your social life and you’ll find that you enter the workspace with a much more positive and can do attitude. You won’t find yourself growing bitter at your work or resentful or your workplace. Make sure that you stick to your contracted working hours or, if you’re in charge of your own working hours, that you put healthy hours and boundaries in place.

While it’s important to have a healthy work life balance, you do need to make sure that you don’t tip over into allowing your social life to impact your work. We’ve all been in an office space where someone turns up in a state that isn’t conducive to productive work. Maybe they had a late night the night before. Maybe they went out drinking. Maybe they got up too early and have already worn themselves out. Make sure that you plan social plans responsibly. Try to make late nights a weekend activity. If an event is unavoidable, consider booking the next day off work or using a hangover IV drip to boost your energy levels before heading back in.

We should all seek consistent self-improvement when it comes to work. Showing that you are willing and eager to constantly expand your skillset and become more valuable to a company shows good intention and commitment. Employers like this. Talk to your boss or manager about additional training that can help you to advance. Things that will expand your skillsets that are relevant and beneficial to the business. Just make sure that the courses and training you seek out are something that you are genuinely interested in, or this can quickly become a drag and lead to changes in your responsibilities or job role that might impact your workplace happiness. Some examples include health and safety training, job specific training, workplace culture training and more.

These are just a few tips and tricks that will get you performing even better in the workplace. Try them out and see how you get on!