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You can take pride in what you do without boasting or acting superior—it's important to understand the difference between appreciating your accomplishments and thinking you are better than others. Approach your tasks with a positive outlook, give your best effort, and you'll feel confident knowing you're doing everything you can. Take things step by step, and soon you'll find satisfaction in your daily successes.
Steps
Developing the Right Attitude
Begin each day with positive thoughts to set yourself up for success. Instead of waking up with a sense of dread, remind yourself of the privilege of having a job, even if it’s not your dream role. Remember, your current situation doesn’t have to define your future. Commit to doing the best job possible in your present position.
- Choosing to actively engage in your work rather than dragging your feet can drastically improve both your mindset and your productivity, which will make you more proud of the results you achieve.
Keep the “why” behind your work in mind. Most people work because they need to support themselves, but think beyond that. Are you working to provide for your family, create a better life for yourself, serve your community, learn a new skill, connect with others, or contribute your expertise? Remember, there’s more to your work than simply earning a paycheck.
- Staying focused on your core motivation will help you take greater pride in your work and maintain a positive mindset during moments of dissatisfaction or monotony.
Take responsibility for your work instead of letting others influence your success. Whether you’re working independently or as part of a team, commit to doing your best. It may be tempting to point fingers at a colleague or partner when things go wrong, but in the end, the quality of your work rests with you.
- If someone isn’t pulling their weight, address the issue directly with them. If that doesn’t resolve it, speak to your manager. Keep the conversation professional and straightforward, like, “Hi Renee, I just wanted to inform you that Joe has been consistently late to work over the past few weeks, and it’s impacting our ability to open on time. I thought you should be aware.”
Steer clear of complaining about your job, boss, or colleagues. Focusing on the negatives will only drain your motivation. When you feel like complaining, try to shift your perspective and highlight something positive.
- For example, instead of grumbling about covering for a colleague, recognize that your boss can depend on you to help fill in the gaps, which shows your reliability.
Creating Something You Can Take Pride In
Prepare for your day rather than improvising. You’ll find it easier to stay focused and motivated if you start your tasks with clarity. Spend 10 to 20 minutes at the beginning of each day to create a to-do list, check your calendar, and address any important emails. Taking this small step will help you become a more efficient worker.
- Try arriving at the office 10 to 20 minutes early for one week and notice how it impacts your attitude and productivity throughout the day.
Prioritize the quality of your work, even if no one else will see it. You’ll feel more fulfilled about your work and yourself when you commit to doing your best in any given task. Rather than rushing to complete something just for the sake of finishing, ask yourself, “Is this something I can truly be proud of?”
Tip: There will be times when you face strict time limits for a project. If that’s the case, focus on doing the best you can within the time constraints. Consider ways to enhance your focus, like putting away your phone, avoiding internet distractions, and limiting breaks.
Go the extra mile and exceed basic expectations. Double-check your work, handle tasks you notice that aren’t technically yours, anticipate questions that may arise in the future, and think beyond the scope of your job description. Look for ways to make your work stand out, and implement those ideas when possible.
- For instance, if your task is to write a report on last month’s sales, consider including additional context like holidays, employee absences, power outages, and other variables that might have impacted the results.
- Taking initiative doesn’t mean you have to know everything. If you’re unsure about something, ask questions.
Establish accountability to help you deliver your best work. Sometimes, a little extra motivation can help keep you on track, and that’s completely okay. If you need it, set up regular check-ins with a colleague or supervisor, such as a “mini-deadline” every week to help you stay on target.
- For example, if you’re working on a presentation due in a month, arrange to send your supervisor an updated version every Friday at noon. This way, you’ll have multiple deadlines to work toward, and won’t fall into the trap of procrastination.
Handling Compliments
Accept compliments with a genuine smile and a simple “thank you.” When someone acknowledges your work, receive the recognition graciously rather than brushing it off. You don't need to go into detail about the effort you put in, but there's nothing wrong with letting others appreciate your efforts. Try responding like this the next time someone compliments your work:
- “Thank you for noticing my work; I really appreciate it.”
- “I'm so glad everything turned out well with the project.”
- “Thanks. It was a lot of hard work, but I’m happy it paid off.”
Don’t downplay your work or engage in self-deprecation. When people compliment your work, you might feel the urge to dismiss it, say it wasn’t difficult, or that someone else could’ve done it better. If you feel this urge, just say “thank you” and smile.
- It takes practice to accept compliments without feeling awkward. Remember, you did excellent work, and it’s perfectly fine to acknowledge that you put in effort!
Give credit to those who supported you. While it's important to accept compliments with grace, it’s equally vital to acknowledge the people who helped you along the way. Maybe you collaborated with a team or received valuable guidance from a senior colleague. Consider saying something like:
- “Thank you. It was definitely a team effort, and my colleagues and I put in a lot of work on this project.”
- “I really appreciate it. Robert from underwriting was a huge help in making the process clearer for me.”
- “Mary’s encouragement kept me going when I felt stuck.”
Ask a question to keep the conversation flowing. Once you’ve accepted the compliment, shift the conversation so it doesn’t seem like you want to keep the focus solely on yourself. For example, you could say something like, “Thanks so much, Mark. It was a tough project, but it feels great to have completed it. By the way, I heard you were working on a new proposal. How's that going?”
Tip: If someone asks more about your work or wants additional details, it’s perfectly fine to keep the spotlight on you. Just be mindful of the other person’s cues to know when it’s time to move the conversation along.
Remember, you can take pride in your work even if no one else notices it. Depending on your profession, you might not always receive direct praise for your efforts. That doesn't mean you can't still feel proud of what you accomplish. You can even share your pride when discussing your work with others.
- For example, if someone asks how your work is going, you could respond with something like, “It’s going great! I just finished a month-long research project, and I’m really proud of what I achieved.”
- Always speak with enthusiasm and authenticity when you talk about your work. If you’re genuinely excited about what you’ve done, that energy will be contagious.
- Avoid sounding like you're craving compliments. Unfortunately, some people may not be able to offer you praise or even feel happy for your accomplishments.
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If you struggle with staying motivated, try making a list of the 3 most important tasks for the day. Tackle those tasks first before moving on to anything else.
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Wake up when your alarm goes off, instead of hitting snooze, to start your day with the right mindset. Rather than rushing, embrace the day ahead with anticipation.
