A good workplace culture and strong work ethic are essential for a company to succeed. If you are practicing ways to strengthen the workplace culture but yet high efficiency and excellent performances are not achieved, there might be a reason why. In a fast and changing world where professionals need to constantly learn and hone their technical knowledge to adapt to the latest technology, an increasing number of employers reveal one of their best-kept hiring secrets: they are putting a higher premium on excellent work ethics over tech skills.
But why? What could be the logical reasoning behind this?
In this article, Will Cotter, a seasoned digital entrepreneur who owns professional home cleaning companies, (the newest of which is FreshSpace Cleaning Service) breaks down the benefits of having people with strong work ethics than technical skills when looking for the perfect candidate to bring on board their companies.
First, What Does A Good Work Ethic Mean?
By definition, work ethics refer to a broad range of positive personal core values centered on people’s diligence and dedication to their jobs. Some of the best examples include:
- Punctuality – Being on time for work and completing tasks within set deadlines.
- Professionalism – Displaying appropriate behavior, attitude, and attire at all times.
- Responsibility – Taking ownership and accountability of assigned projects and their intended and unintended results.
- Team Player– A supportive, cooperative, and collaborative team member getting along with anyone and is willing to assist colleagues and share responsibilities when necessary.
- Initiative – Taking the lead on tasks and projects intuitively rather than waiting to be told what to do.
On the contrary, bad work ethics involve:
- Sub-par work quality.
- Habitual tardiness.
- Inability to lead or collaborate with teammates.
- Different forms of micro-aggressions, prevent others from having a conducive work environment.
Benefits of Having Employees With Positive Work Ethics
While technical expertise is essential in most cases, employers consider potential candidates with good work ethics as a morevaluable addition to the team because they contribute several advantages to the organization and em
ployee satisfaction.
- Healthy Retention Rate– Employees with solid
work ethics have higher chances of being a strong cultural fit for the team, which means they’re less likely to quit. - Consistency– A good work ethic often implies that an individual is reliable and consistently produces high-quality work.
- Adaptability – A strong work ethic also means the willingness to learn and adapt to new situations, technologies, and processes.
- Dedication – Employees with solid work ethics don’t just do what is in their job description; they commit and go above and beyond.
- Higher job satisfaction – They are more likely to take pride in their work, feel valuable in their roles, and be happier in the company. It’s also probably because they are more likely to get promotions, incentives, and offers for better career opportunities.
- Enhanced industry reputation – Companies that employ professionals with a good work ethic are often models of industry excellence.
Tips to Improve Work Ethics
One way to improve work ethic is to repair which could help drive a positive work environment, increase job satisfaction, and lower turnover rates. Ideally, employers want to hire someone who already has a strong work ethic naturally. But nobody’s perfect. Even the most talented employees with the biggest potential do have some areas they need to work on. For example, you can be consistently productive and exceptional at your job but you’re a bad team player. Or you’re creative and dedicated but you’re always late. The good news is, like other skills, there are many ways to build and sharpen work ethics. Here are some tips to get you started.
- Work for an organization you can believe in. It’s hard to appreciate your job or company if you don’t love what you do or at least identify with what your organization stands for.
- Establish yourself as a reliable employee. Make a commitment to meeting deadlines and following through on your promises. This will build trust with your colleagues and employers.
- Learn to set priorities. If you’re easily overwhelmed with work responsibilities, make a to-do list and work on tasks based on importance and urgency. This will help you to
concentrate and stay organized. - Stay focused and optimistic – Maintain a positive attitude even in difficult situations. This can boost your motivation, give you a different perspective on certain things, help you find joy in your work, and positively influence your colleagues’ morale.
- Seek feedback: Ask for feedback from your boss and colleagues on improving your work. This can help you to identify areas for growth and make positive changes.
- Develop a hunger for learning – Stay up-to-date with the latest industry developments and seek opportunities to learn new skills. This will help you to stay relevant and improve your value to your employer.
- Maintain a healthy mind, body, and spirit. – As a popular saying goes, “you can’t give from an empty cup.” So take care of yourself. Get a healthy dose of sleep. Practice mindfulness. Don’t skip meals. Make an effort to exercise or at least move your body more. Take regular breaks from work. Spend quality time alone or with friends and family.
On the other hand, employers can also encourage their team members to develop a solid work ethic by setting a good example, creating a safe and supportive environment, maintaining an open mind and actively listening to employee feedback and ideas, and offering many ways to move up the career ladder to inspire their people to improve continuously.
